One of the easiest ways all Australians can support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and cultures is to engage with First Nation's art. This can include purchasing Indigenous fine art and craft wares, enjoying music by Indigenous musicians, and reading Indigenous-authored books.
In this spirit of support, we would like to acknowledge a long-time friend of the Watarrka Foundation, the Alpitye Art Studio, located in Alice Springs. We extended our gratitude to the studio for their ongoing support of the Foundation's fundraising initiatives, so thank you Alpitye Art studio! You can read about the studio's artists and purchase their works on their website.
As the chill of autumn sets in, there's no better time to cozy up at home with a good book. To inspire your reading list, we've curated a selection of recently published Aboriginal-authored books, perfect for a snug evening indoors. So, brew yourself a warm cuppa and settle in.
Winner of the 2024 Indie Book Debut Fiction Award, The Visitors is a speculative novel which re-imagines a crucial moment in Australian history, the arrival of the First Fleet. The story of the 26th of January, 1788 has been widely told from the British perspective. In The Visitors, Jane Harrison, award-winning Muruwari author and playwright, offers a telling of the day that changed the course of Australian history from eyes of the First Nations peoples. The Sydney Morning Herald describes The Visitors as "surprisingly funny, cheeky and tragic".
When the World Was Soft is a "ground-breaking graphic novel sharing the stories of Yindjibarndi Creation-times in an immediate and engaging way for a contemporary audience". The Yindjibarndi are an Aboriginal people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Suitable for young and adult readers alike, When the World Was Soft is beautifully illustrated and a special opportunity to share, preserve and support the culture and stories of the Yindjibarndi people.
Telling is an anthology of 12 diverse and complex true life stories about living in the wake of colonisation by Elders from all over Australia. The Elders who have contributed reflect on "intergenerational trauma, Stolen Generations, reconnection and resistance, demonstrating their deeply felt Black pride and joy and celebrating their stories of survival". Books like Telling are essential reading for all Australians who want to preserve the voices of First Nations Elders and to acknowledge to the diversity of Aboriginal lived experiences. Telling is published by Magabala Books, Australia's leading Aboriginal owned and led publishing house.
Songlines is the perfect introduction to Indigenous traditional knowledges for children eight years old and above. The book offers teachings about Aboriginal history, art, science, song and more in a way that is engaging and inviting for young people. This book is the child-friendly adaption of the widely successful Songlines: The Power and the Promise by authors Margo Neale and Lynne Kelly. With a focus on how Indigenous knowledges and practices are vital in their application to the present day and the future, Songlines, both young and adult editions, is an opportunity for readers to learn about why Indigenous knowledge systems are essential for a thriving future for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians alike.
Kuracca: Us Mob Writing is a multi-lingual anthology featuring eleven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women spanning poetry, prose, songs and stories. All contributors to Kuracca are members of Canberra's longest running Indigenous writers group 'Us Mob Writing'. Published in 2023, Kuracca is an opportunity to read and support the voices of up-and-coming First Nations authors across various genres. Published by Running Water Community Press, a non-for-profit small publishing house devoted to the unique and distinct writers of Central Australia.
Each year, the Watarrka Foundation facilitates the Sports & Storytelling Festival, an event which brings together Aboriginal primary school aged students from throughout the Watarrka region near Kings Canyon in Central Australia for a three-day immersive educational, physical, and above all, fun experience, with the primary goal of educating the students on the importance of attending school.
The festival will be held in June this year, so we are busy organising everything behind the scenes to make this year's Sports & Storytelling the best one yet! We are calling for donations to fund the festival's expenses, you can show your support for the festival and its mission by clicking here.
To support the Foundation and our projects within the Northern Territory, make a donation at www.givenow.com.au/watarrkafoundation
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