BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) is an awesome charity that works with more than 400 remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around Australia.

Lots of these communities don’t have libraries or bookshops, so the ILF runs programs that put books in the hands of little learners to instil a love of reading from an early age.

It supplies young readers, and pre-readers, with culturally relevant Book Supply packs that strongly feature Indigenous authors and illustrators.  

It supports communities to publish their own stories.

And it builds a Book Buzz for under-fives, with a daily Story Time session that supports littlies to develop crucial pre-literacy skills, with a real focus on their First Language.

All of this is really positive for children’s current and future selves, and guided by each community, the ILF is working to improve literacy outcomes, one book at a time.

Since 2011, it’s gifted 636,000 brand-new books to communities, published 143 books reflecting 26 different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, and supplied 83 playgroups with Book Buzz resources.

And that’s not all!

Once a year, the ILF also holds its flagship event, Indigenous Literacy Day.

This is a chance for all Australians, far and wide, to celebrate First Nations Peoples’ stories, cultures and languages.

This year, the Day is happening on Wednesday, 7 September (yep, this Wednesday!), and with a little internet magic, you and your child can easily get involved by watching a great online story together.

Indigenous Literacy Day’s National Digital Event will transport you to remote Milikapiti and Jilkminggan in the Northern Territory, where you’ll meet some lively local kids and end up moving and singing in three different languages and three different places!

The ILF’s Ambassadors, singer, Jessica Mauboy, and author and performer, Gregg Dreise, are on board to share the story, songs and scenery with you, and this child-led video is fun for all the family.

Make sure you register for this free digital event here, then set aside 20 minutes to watch the video any time from 10:30am AEST on September 7, when it premieres.

2022 is the first year of UNESCO’s Decade of Indigenous Languages, so no there’s better moment to support – and celebrate – Australia’s First Languages.

If you’re inspired by the work the ILF does, you can always donate to their Book Supply program, and if you’re looking for some diverse and culturally rich books to share with your under-five, here are some fantastic First Nations stories to start with:

1. Respect by Fay Stewart-Muir and Sue Lawson

This book ‘whispers a soft and heartfelt message’ about what respect looks like for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

2. Our Home, Our Heartbeat by Adam Briggs and Rachael Sarra

Based on Adam’s song, ‘The Children Came Back,’ this book celebrates Indigenous legends, past and present, and emerging generations, too.

3. Kookoo Kookaburra by Gregg Dreise

This colourful morality tale teaches children that “Kindness is like a boomerang – if you throw it often, it comes back often…”

4. Cooee Mittigar by Jasmine Seymour

This Award-winning book introduces families to Darug Nura (Country) and language, with a beautiful journey through the seasons.

5. Bush Mob Counting by Helen Milroy

This soon-to-be-released book teaches little kids to count to 10, with some help from their animal friends.

To learn some great techniques for reading these books with your under-five, check out this article, and to see a great example of Indigenous culture being woven into mainstream early education, click here.