First Nations students publish book inspired by Yuin heritage
These two high school students turned a school project into a published book, thanks to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Find out how they did it and what the future now holds
READING LEVEL: GREEN
Two Indigenous teenagers have become published authors at just 14 and 15-years-old, with a book they hope will teach readers of their proud Yuin* heritage.
Hailing from the South Coast of NSW, mates Tyran Uddin, 15, of Vincentia High School, and Kayden Wellington, 14, of Bomaderry High School, wrote and published Bagan, Barra, Barra, Mirriwarr: The Boys Who Found Their Way in late 2024.
The book has now become available to purchase at participating booksellers along the Shoalhaven* and Illawarra regions.
The book follows two Yuin boys who go exploring on a bidhu (mountain) in search of food, where they meet a number of animals.
It is written in English and Dhurga, a traditional First Nations dialect spoken by the Yuin people, with a glossary at the back of the book translating Dhurga words.
“Me and Kayden were kind of just doing our own thing and sitting under a tree on the creek, we just looked at kangaroos and that was it,” Tyran said.
The book formed part of a program at Vincentia High School among their almost 200 Indigenous students to write and publish a book of poems through the Indigenous Literacy Foundation*.
However, the school and foundation loved the boys’ idea so much, they wanted to make it its own thing – but professional publishing meant there was a deadline.
“We had four days to do it,” Kayden said.
Tyran said the book was incredibly special to him.
“It’s about Dreamtime and two boys who try to find their way around,” he said.
“They go walking around the bush and find spirits, a kangaroo, a whale and an eagle.”
First Nations artworks also graces the book’s pages, with the illustrations created by not just Tyran and Kayden, but by Vincentia High School’s entire First Nations student group.
Vincentia High School visual arts teacher, Jaz Corr, said the entire process was enjoyed by all.
“It was a very different model of creative writing, but also creating stories and artwork because we actually took kids off school campus and went out on Country,” she said.
“I think that’s why one of the great successes of the book is that it has been produced outside an institution*.”
But the show isn’t over yet for the two young authors, with the book now short-listed* for the Karajia Award* for Children’s Literature.
“It’s all been a bit of a shock for me,” Tyran said.
For Kayden, seeing the book in public still felt unreal.
“I walked up into the (Wollongong) library and asked if they had the book, and they did,” he said.
The pair said the experience had lit a spark within them that could lead to careers in writing.
“I do want to keep going,” Tyran said.
The boys’ book can be purchased online and from participating retailers.
POLL
GLOSSARY
- Yuin: a nation of Indigenous Australian people from the South Coast of NSW
- Shoalhaven: a local government area in the South Coast of NSW, just south of the Illawarra Region
- Indigenous Literacy Foundation: a national charity of the Australian Book Industry that works with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia
- institution: an organisation started for a religious, educational, political, professional or social purpose
- short-listed: selected as one of a handful of entries that could win an award
- Karajia Award: an annual award by the Wilderness Society that honours First Nations storytellers
EXTRA READING
ILD: Celebrating strength in stories
Students revive ancient language
Why ‘badness’ in books is so good
QUICK QUIZ
1. Dhurga is a language spoken by which First Nations people?
2. What is the Dhurga word for mountain?
3. What is Tyran and Kayden’s book about?
4. Which award has the book been short-listed for?
5. Who did the illustrations in the book?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Write your story
Tyran and Kayden’s story is an expression of their culture and heritage. Think about your own culture and heritage, such as the places your ancestors have come from, your family’s traditions and belief systems, languages spoken, etc. Write your own short fiction story that connects to some of these themes.
Time: allow 30+ minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English
2. Extension
Create a cover illustration that your story might have if it were published.
Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Visual Arts
VCOP ACTIVITY
Imaginative dialogue
Imagine you were there during the event being discussed in the article, or for the interview.
Create a conversation between two characters from the article – you may need or want to include yourself as one of the characters. Don’t forget to try to use facts and details from the article to help make your dialogue as realistic as possible.
Go through your writing and highlight any punctuation you have used in green. Make sure you carefully check the punctuation used for the dialogue and ensure you have opened and closed the speaking in the correct places.