Kids share their ‘brilliant’ croc tale at Sydney Opera House for ILD

Did you know that this Wednesday 3 September is Indigenous Literacy Day? Let’s celebrate!

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) has joined the iconic* Sydney Opera House to present this year’s main event: a livestream and free film for schools and others that kicks off at 10.30am AEST Wednesday.

This year’s theme – “Strength in our stories: for now and future generations” – embraces the power of intergenerational storytelling, connecting us across time and place.

Author, artist, performer and proud ILF ambassador* Gregg Dreise said culture was a person’s strength.

“I have great pride in our beautiful culture, and many of my ancestors* proudly battled to pass down this beauty,” Dreise said. “The beautiful warmth of our culture is something that I am truly proud of.

“‘For now and future generations’ is a perfect reminder (that) whatever happens in life, through the good times and the bad, I strive to continue to pass down our beautiful culture every day, to ensure that it continues into the future. Gabayindah (thank you).”

The 19-minute film will take viewers on a rich visual adventure through three remote Aboriginal communities to learn about the diverse ways storytelling makes their communities strong, journeying to Ceduna and Koonibba in South Australia to learn from young author Mia Speed, celebrate Wirangu language, and make bush medicine on Country.

Viewers will also meet the young student authors of bilingual* book Grinch det K’Taun Krok! (Grinch the K-Town Croc!), hear from Elders and learn the creation Dreaming story of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge in Katherine and Binjari.

The video then travels across Country so we can learn about the Ngaanyatjarra seasons, and how Miss Daisy’s knowledge and stories are keeping Warakurna kids strong in Western Australia.

The stream then connects to Wednesday’s exciting live event at the Sydney Opera House.

The program features Dreise and fellow ILF ambassadors Bianca Hunt, Josh Pyke, Andy Griffiths, David Lawrence and special guests Lucas Proudfoot, Teyha Makani and students from Katherine High School and Redfern Jarjum College.

Students from Katherine High School who worked with Lawrence to write and illustrate Grinch det K’Taun Krok! in Kriol and English, published by the ILF, will be there after travelling all the way to Sydney.

“Any story with a crocodile that quacks like a duck is a must-read for me,” said

Lawrence, adding that when he first met the students, they had “a lot of energy”.

“I spent the first hour just watching them bounce around the room: left, right, up and down, all around the place,” Lawrence said. “But somehow they came up with this most amazing story. It really is a brilliant story. Everyone I’ve told about it just loves it and wants to get a copy.”

Lawrence congratulated all the boys on their “fantastic” book.

“It is an absolute cracker and I recommend everyone reads it,” he said. “I really look forward to seeing the boys at the Sydney Opera House.

“The boys came up with an ingenious* twist that took the story to an unexpected but explosively satisfying conclusion.”

When the boys themselves were asked how they felt about coming to the big smoke, they said: “We feel nervous, excited and (joyful) at the same time. It’s going to be a long way trip from home.”

“We wrote this book to teach other Aboriginal kids about our Community,” they said in a joint statement. “The book is important to us, because we get to read it and look at the drawings. We want to be role models for the younger generations. The most fun part was us all coming together.”

This is the 18th year that the ILF has marked Indigenous Literacy Day to celebrate shared stories, storytellers, education and intergenerational connections.

“I am most excited to hear the stories from the students behind the book, Grinch det K’Taun Krok!,” said ILF CEO Ben Bowen.

Mr Bowen said that the ILF “was honoured to listen to and experience the humour, language, culture and unique voice of storytellers”.

“The ILF is honoured to be standing in partnership with communities around Australia to support their ambition and aspirations* to continue the legacy* and connectedness, and we look forward to the future of opportunities centred in culture,” he said.

Sydney Opera House’s digital creative learning program reaches more than 350,000 students across over 4400 schools, according to the head of screen Stuart Buchanan.

“Each year our collaboration with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation deepens our understanding of the cultural power and creative brilliance that First Nations storytellers bring to the national conversation,” Mr Buchanan said.

“It’s an honour to amplify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices through our digital platforms for them to be heard now and for generations to come.”

Indigenous Literacy Day will be livestreamed via the Sydney Opera House Creative Learning platform. Registrations are free and open now for all, including teachers and schools and homeschool families around Australia.

Once registered, you will be sent a link that will be live on Wednesday 3 September at 10.30am AEST.

Register at sydneyoperahouse.com/form/ild

WATCH THE VIDEO

GET INVOLVED
Another great way for your school to get involved is to hold your own Busking For Change or Great Book Swap fundraiser after you watch the Livestream. Visit the ILF website for other ways to get involved and celebrate Indigenous Literacy Day at ilf.org.au

POLL

GLOSSARY

• iconic: very famous or popular, especially representing a particular place, time or thing
• ambassador: a person who represents, speaks for, or advertises a particular organisation, group of people, activity, or brand
• ancestors: a person related to you who lived a long time ago
• bilingual: written or expressed in two languages
• ingenious: clever, skilful, imaginative, using new ideas and methods
• aspirations: strong hope or ambitions for achievement or success in future
• legacy: something important or representative that endures long after someone has gone

EXTRA READING

Why ‘badness’ in books is so good

Andy Griffiths’ Book Swap splash

Jess Mauboy to livestream schools

QUICK QUIZ

1. Where is the main Indigenous Literacy Day event being held?
2. What is the English translation of the bilingual book Grinch det K’Taun Krok!?
3. Where have the kids who co-authored the book travelled from to Sydney for ILD?
4. Sydney Opera House’s digital creative learning program reaches how many students and schools?
5. Who are the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) ambassadors attending the ILD event?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Stories connect us
Perhaps you’ve read a story to celebrate Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD) or participated in the online live stream or watched the film today. If so, how did that make you feel?

Draw a design for symbols or images you could paint on a rock about your story.

What defines you? What’s the important parts of your story so far?

If you get time, find the perfect rock to transfer your design onto using paint, crayons or pastels.

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History, Visual Art, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
There are over 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and many are being revitalised. So what is literacy? Why do you think it might be important to celebrate Indigenous stories and languages?

Discuss your response with a classmate.

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
To sum it up
After reading the article, use your comprehension skills to summarise in a maximum of three sentences what the article is about.

Think about:

What is the main topic or idea?

What is an important or interesting fact?

Who was involved (people or places)?

Use your VCOP skills to re-read your summary to make sure it is clear, specific and well punctuated.