1. Alawa people (N92 (NT SD53-10)
2. Animals
3. Barramundi
4. Board books
5. Children as artists
6. Cockatoos
7. Indigenous languages
8. Kangaroos
9. Teaching

Minyerri Families as First Teachers (FaFT) worked to create an Alawa language version of ‘The Barramundi Song’. The book’s publication was facilitated by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s Community Publishing program and grew from the excitement generated by ‘The Barramundi Song’ sung to the tune ‘Frere Jacques.’ This has now been translated into several First Nations languages and each community is adding their own unique take through the illustrations and the choice of animals.

The Alawa edition celebrates through art and song, the barramundi, the red-tailed black cockatoo, a kangaroo and a buffalo. The illustrations were created by the families from Minyerri FaFT and use strong ochre and earth tones common to the Minyerri area. The buffalo illustrations are particularly striking.

The creation of these board books is part of the ILF’s ongoing Community Literacy Program which endeavours to work with First Nations communities to create culturally appropriate books in their language. The ILF believe ‘each of these board books will help the current generation of parents and their little ones living in these remote communities become more confident in learning and reading their first languages.’

1. Indigenous Literacy Foundation ‘From barramundi to the kookaburra — turning songs and nursery rhymes into board books in first languages.’ https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/news-events/from-barramundi-to-the-kookaburra-turning-songs-and-nursery-rhymes-into-board-books-in-first-languages
2. The Sector 22 June 2021. Freya Lucas reports ‘Songs and nursery rhymes become board books to boost First Nations languages.’ https://thesector.com.au/2021/06/22/songs-and-nursery-rhymes-become-board-books-to-boost-first-nations-languages/
3. Indigenous Literacy Foundation ‘Community Publishing : Publishing Books written by Community.’ https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/community-literacy-programs