Swap, Connect and Learn

Credit The Indigenous Literacy Foundation

Registrations are now open for the Great Book Swap

An annual initiative of the Indigenous Literary Foundation, the Great Book Swap program, was launched at the South Australian Museum late last week.

Students, authors, illustrators and booksellers all annually throw their support behind this great event, attended this year by a number of special guests including ambassador Natalie Ahmat and Dr Jared Thomas, who spoke about the importance of Australia’s first languages.

A giant inter-school Great Book Swap also took place in the Pacific Cultures Gallery where all students, teachers and guests were asked to bring along a favourite book and gold coin to participate. They were then able to visit Jared Thomas’ new exhibition Yurtu Ardla – a celebration of the continuity and revitalisation of Nukunu and Adnyamathanha carving in the Flinders Ranges.

“I’m delighted that South Australian schools and students will have the opportunity to connect with and learn more about Aboriginal people, communities, diversity, culture and languages through engagement with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s launch of the Great Book Swap program,” says Jared Thomas, ILF Ambassador and South Australian Museum curator.

Many of you will be familiar with this program that lots of schools run each year, giving children an opportunity to swap their old books for a new read while raising funds to support the foundation’s indigenous literacy programs.

You can read more about the event and how you can host one at your children’s school here www.greatbookswap.org.au

2019 is UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages and to mark the occasion, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation have expanded the Great Book Swap learning experience to include opportunities for participants to connect with some of the communities the Foundation works with.

The goal this year of The Indigenous Literary Foundation is to engage with 350,000 students across Australia to help us raise $350,000 to gift 35,000 new books for remote Indigenous communities.

“We are incredibly excited to launch a new initiative celebrating Indigenous languages and culture through the Great Book Swap campaign. This year all participants can learn a little more about Indigenous cultures representing Walmajarri, Arabana, Tiwi and Kriol culture and languages” said Karen Williams, Executive Director, ILF.