I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which I live and work, the Wangerriburra people, and their elders past, present and future.
Minyaghu!* Indigenous Literacy Day will be held in Australia on 1 September. This year’s theme is Celebrating Stories and Language and is an opportunity to recognise and appreciate “the richness, diversity and multilingual world of First Nations peoples” (Indigenous Literacy Foundation, 2021). The event will be marked with a free virtual celebration and is an initiative of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. This is “a national book industry charity dedicated to lifting literacy levels in remote Indigenous communities, so all children across Australia have the same choices and opportunities” (Indigenous Literacy Foundation, 2021).
Reflecting the richness and diversity of the First Nations peoples, there are over 250 languages and more than 800 dialects in Australia. As the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) website states “languages are living things that connect people to Country, culture and ancestors” (AIATSIS, n.d.) and this is why it is so very important that they are spoken and embedded within society. First Languages Australia has projects and resources to encourage all Australians to offer “support for our language communities in which there is an understanding of the importance of strengthening all of our languages, the possibilities of multilingualism and the benefits of language use for all” (First Languages Australia, n.d.). This organisation is working hard to right the wrongs of the past when many Indigenous Australians were banned from using their traditional languages, most notably those of the Stolen Generation.
One way we can recognise and appreciate First Nations languages is by incorporating them into the work we do with children. This can be as simple as including the local word for hello (Jingeri in the Yugambeh language of the Wangerriburra people) at the start of Storytime. We can also read bilingual books with the children in our lives and I would like to share some of these with you now:
Cooee Mittigar
A story on Darug songlines
Written by Jasmine Seymour and illustrated by Leanne Mulgo Watson
Cooee mittigar. Come here friend and join our Daruga mudjin.
Let’s make some budyeri dreaming.
I will teach you of Darug life.
Cooee Mittigar is written in both English and Darug, with the two languages woven together. Darug Nura (Country) covers the greater Sydney basin and was where the First Fleet landed in 1788. Thus it was the Darug people whose Homelands were first colonised by white settlers. The book includes a dictionary of Darug words used in the text, along with information about Darug Nura.
Clever Crow
Written by Nina Lawrence and illustrated by Bronwyn Bancroft
When a hungry crow can’t find any food, he has to be very clever.
Clever Crow is told in English and Djamparrpuyŋu. It is one of the many Yolŋu languages and has been spoken by the Indigenous people of North East Arnhem Land for over 40,000 years. The book includes a section on the orthography of Djamparrpuyŋu and a glossary of words in the text.
My Story
Written and illustrated by Shirley Purdie
I am Shirley Purdie. This is my story.
Ngayin-ga Birrmarriyan-nga. Berrembi jarragbe ngaginybe.
My mother showed me how to get bushtucker and she showed me how to paint. Now I’m a famous artist.
My paintings are all over the world hanging in important places.
I’m still painting, sharing corroboree, hunting for bushtucker and teaching the young people.
Happy times.
My Story is told in English and Gija, “an endangered language spoken in the east Kimberley region of Western Australia” (CIARA, 2018). The book includes information about Shirley Purdie and the Warmun Art Centre.
These beautiful books are a starting point for showing respect for First Nations languages and the people who speak them. Together we can build a brighter future for everyone. Nya-nyah bu!*
*Minyaghu is Hello and Nya-nyah bu is See you later in the Yugambeh language of the Wangerriburra people.
Click on the book cover image to link to the source. Quotes taken from the blurb and content of the books.
Tales From The Children's Library 