Yirrkala School is a remote school in East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory and has a long-standing program of bilingual, 'both ways' education. Three beautiful picture books have been created in Community that reflect Yolŋu life, Language and Country.
Published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), these books were facilitated in a workshop with ILF Lifetime Ambassador Alison Lester, children's author Jane Godwin and designer Lee Burgemeestre.
On the Way to Yalaŋbara is written and illustrated by two respected Elders of the Yolŋu people of North East Arnhem Land Community, Rärriwuy Garramu Marika and Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs. Their book is a story of family and Country, based on a real-life adventure to the sacred homeland of Yalaŋbara.
Merrkiyawuy says, "It's a very beautiful place. The water is clear and the freshwater hole is right next to the sea. A lot of turtles come up and lay their eggs all along the beach."
Rärriwuy says, "It's a true story. We had a visit from a lady from Melbourne University and we decided to take her out to our homelands. But you have to know how to drive on sand."
"So, when we had a workshop with Alison Lester, I thought about the photos that we took on that day and about our adventures of not quite reaching Yalaŋbara, and we decided to turn it into a book."
Merrkiyawuy was able to illustrate this book with beautiful artworks that were copied from photos. She used pencil first then went over it with ink. The background watercolours were created by Yirrkala School students.
On The Way To Yalaŋbara was written first in Dhaŋu Language and then translated into English. The Dhaŋu version of this book Bala Yalaŋbarali is for the Community to enjoy, and they have decided for the English version to be sold commercially.
Djawundil Maymara is a Maŋgalili woman raised by a Gumatj Elder. She is a Yolŋu mother and grandmother from Bawaka in North East Arnhem Land and has written Ŋäṉḏi ga Gatapaŋa (Mum and the Buffalo) with illustrations from children at Yirrkala School. Written in Dhuwaya and English, this book is also a fun adventure about a family's unexpected encounter with a buffalo while out collecting pandanus.
Guḻun' (Billabong) was created by the children at Yirrkala School and is a counting book written in Dhuwaya and English that introduces twelve local animals found around the billabong.
ILF Ambassador Ann James says, "Bursting with the cleverness of its cheeky, bright creators… the illustrations and text are absolutely brilliant — you can count on that!"
Book information:
On the Way to Yalaŋbara, written by Rärriwuy Garramu Marika and illustrated by Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs. Language: English. ISBN: 9781922592682; rrp: $24.99 Hardback. Ages 7 +
Gulun' (Billabong) by Children at Yirrkala School. ISBN: 9781923179516; rrp: $24.99 Hardback. Language: Dhuwaya and English. Ages 2-7
Ŋäṉḏi ga Gatapaŋa (Mum and the Buffalo) by Djawundil Maymara and children at Yirrkala School. ISBN: 9781923179608; rrp: $24.99 Hardback. Language: Dhuwaya and English Ages 4+
Available online now at https://shop.ilf.org.au/ and where all good books are sold
About us:
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) is a national charity working with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities across Australia. They are Community-led, responding to requests from remote Communities for culturally relevant books, including early learning board books, resources, and programs to support Communities to create and publish their stories in languages of their choice.
In 2024 the ILF won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, given annually to a person or organisation for their outstanding contribution to children's or young adult literature.
