Indigenous languages celebrated in bilingual books

High school students from the NSW south coast are showcasing culture through two bilingual books written using local Indigenous language, Dhurga. 'Ngayawanj bagan-nggul, ngayawanj barra barra-nggul (We belong to the land, we belong to the sea)', is a collection of poems and stories written in Dhurga and English by students at Vincentia High School. The poetry and artworks adorning the anthology were created during workshops with Gunai author Kirli Saunders and Dharawal artist Jaz Corr. For students like Jonah Ardler-Pascoe, who wrote the poem 'Diving' for the anthology, the workshops and resulting book were an opportunity to share culture. "My ancestors used to dive and collect seafood in order to eat and survive, and my poem tries to celebrate this part of my history," he said. Iesha Walker, who wrote the poem 'The Beach', said it feels "unreal" to be published. "It's just something I would have never thought I would do but I am so happy and grateful that I have been able to be a part of this book," she said. "I love that I have been able to express myself using language and sharing that makes me feel so proud of myself and my culture." Two students, Tyran Uddin and Kayden Wellington, co-authored 'Bagan, barra barra, mirriwarr (The Boys Who Found Their Way)', during the workshops. The story follows two boys who meet with animals who teach them about being on country, connecting to the land and to each other. "This book is about caring for the environment and learning from the environment, it is also about healing" Kayden Wellington said. "The most fun part was working with my good mate Ty." The journey to creating these books began long before the workshops. It started with local elders and community who established Dhurga language lessons at the school 20 years ago. The school's Dhurga language teacher Jonathan Hill said these books not only honour the people who established the program, but will be invaluable to continue teaching the local language. "Local primary schools in our region are constantly looking for ways to integrate Dhurga language into mainstream curriculum and these books offer the perfect avenue to achieve such a goal," he said. "It is immensely exciting to contemplate the plethora of ways in which these books will accelerate the language revitalisation process." Both books will be launched for Indigenous Literacy Day on Wednesday, alongside 'Yaltji Ngayuku Papa? (Where's My Dog?)', which was written in Pitjantjatjara and English by students at Tjuntjuntjara Remote Community School in Western Australia. Singer Jessica Mauboy, who is an Indigenous Literacy Foundation ambassador, will be launching the books at the Sydney Opera House. "Stories, songs, and culture are so much a part of who I am and how I grew up, and by sharing these with others, we help keep the culture and community alive," she said. "I am proud to be a part of ensuring that our stories, languages, and traditions continue to be passed down to future generations, and that we honour our elders' journeys."