SOLL Event: The Great Book Swap 2023
Felicia Lee
The School of Linguistics and Languages at the University of Melbourne is organising a Great Book Swap this week on Wednesday, 6 September, to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. In addition, Dr Bill Forshaw, Academic Specialist (Indigenous Education) will also be at the event with his book, NT Mob Sharing Stories In Language.
Felicia spoke to him about his book and his participation in the event.
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Could you tell us more about the book that you’ve edited and what motivated you to undertake the project?
NT Mob Sharing Stories in Language is a collection of nine children’s stories in nine languages from across the Northern Territory. The book celebrates the work of Aboriginal educators working in schools, language centres and community language projects. The stories are presented in their first language accompanied by an audio reading accessible via a QR code. Alongside each of the stories is an English translation, allowing the stories to be enjoyed by many. The book celebrates the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032).
The idea for the book came about while I was working as a Linguist at OLSH Thamarrurr Catholic College in Wadeye. This school teaches in both English and the students’ first language Murrinhpatha. Our team at the Literature Production Centre were inspired by a book in our collection, Djugurba: Tales from the Spirit Time. This book was created in 1975 by an earlier generation of young Aboriginal people from the islands, the coast and the inland of the Northern Territory who were training as teachers in Darwin. They created a book of the myths and legends of their own peoples to share with each other. This collection was later translated into Murrinhpatha by Darrnanhthi Theodora Narndu. The Murrinhpatha version of Djugurba Murrinh Ku Ngukumingki has been used at the school ever since. NT Mob Sharing Stories in Language continues in the spirit of Djugurba, connecting the great work of remote communities and sharing this with the world.
In what way does your book contribute to getting the general public to learn more about indigenous languages and culture?
NT Mob Sharing Stories in Language allows families and communities across Australia to enjoy stories from across the NT. People are also able to listen to these stories in the story’s first language. The languages in the book include Arrernte, Anindilyakwa, Kriol, Kunwinjku, Wubuy, Djambarrpuyŋu, Murrinhpatha, Warumungu, and Warlpiri. Each story in the book also includes background about the language and the community where it is from. This provides a great starting point from which to learn about the great diversity of Australia’s Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
Unfortunately, these languages have been greatly impacted by colonisation with many languages now in a process of revival. This book includes traditional languages which are still being acquired by children as a first language such as Murrinhpatha and Warlpiri, traditional languages which are being revived such as Wubuy and Warumungu, as well as the new Indigenous language Kriol.
You’re going to be at the Great Book Swap on 6 September this week! Is there anything that our readers should know about the event?
The Great Book Swap is a fundraiser event for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), who is the publisher of NT Mob Sharing Stories in Language. People are invited to donate second-hand books for sale in the lead up to the event. On September 6 people will be able to purchase books with all proceeds going to support the ILF. Everyone who purchases a book during the book swap will go into the draw to win a brand-new copy of NT Mob Sharing Stories in Language.
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. The ILF are great supporters of community book projects such as NT Mob Sharing Stories in Language and I’m very pleased to be able to support the great work they do.
So I hope to see you at the event with your bags to take home some books!
Thank you for speaking to me, Bill!
Thank you, Felicia.
Event information for The Great Book Swap
Date/Day: 6 September 2023, Wednesday
Time: 11 am
Venue: Arts West Foyer