First Nations Students from Dawurr Boarding House in Nhulunbuy Become First-Time Authors

In a new book, Sweet Home: Stories of Country and family published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, 28 students from Dawurr Boarding House share their heart-felt stories about what home means to them.

“Home is where the heart is. But home is two things for the kids. It’s home and then it’s home away from home,” says Stuart Martin, Rembarranga man from Bulman who has worked with the students at Dawurr Boarding for four years.

Dawurr is the Yolŋu word for honeybee and when Rirratjingu Elder Witiyana Marika gave the boarding house its name, he told the story of the mother bee who works and helps the small offspring from the hive when they go out into the world. She teaches them wisdom and knowledge.

The stories in Sweet Home are told by students that come from 13 diverse Communities across the Northern Territory and this book was conceived as part of a literacy program run at Dawurr.

Sweet Home's illustrator of the book and his mother

English teacher Oliver Friedmann says, “With home in mind, the students spent many afternoons generating ideas. They thought deeply about the meaning of the word and carefully planned a story inspired by their reflections.

“We hope that readers read each student’s story slowly and listen to their words deeply. All of them have important things to say. We hope that these stories help readers understand a bit more what home looks like for young people in the remote Northern Territory.”

Niyana Roberts-Long, age 13 says, “I would like the Prime Minister [to read the book], and my family and also the kids from my homelands.”

Glenda Forbes, age 13 says,“The person that I most want to read the book is my grandad. I think that he will feel proud.”

Daydae Yunupingu, age 16, whose pencil drawings illustrate the book, says that Sweet Home is important to him to “give a voice to the person I am, showing my art across the land. Better to show my culture than to keep it in one spot.”

Cindy Manfong, ILF Publishing Projects Editor and proud Jingili, Mudburra and Mangarrayi woman who grew up in Katherine (NT) on Jawoyn Country says, "As a young Aboriginal woman, born and raised in the Northern Territory and moved to the big city for work, I definitely related to the homesickness and feelings of missing my family in Sweet Home. I felt a connection to every story in this book.

“I hope this book will help the young ones be proud of where they come from, and to never forget their own stories, because home and family will always be where the heart is, no matter where you are in this Country."

ABOUT DAWURR BOARDING Dawurr Boarding is a 40-bed co-ed boarding facility located on Rirratjingu land in Nhulunbuy, North East Arnhem Land. Established in 2017, Dawurr supports students from across the Northern Territory in accessing quality education and wellbeing programs, while remaining close to culture, Country and Communities.

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