Welcome, children! Nangga! Nangga! Yakarti! Tonight will be our Ceremony.
Welcome to Our Country is a series designed to connect young children, parents and carers with First Nations history and cultures. The story is told by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing and illustrated by Barkindji man, author and artist, David Hardy. Together, these three creators build a sense of wonder to further explore the protocols of First Nations people.
Goodes is an Adnyamathanha and Narungga man and community leader. He is a former Australian Rules Footballer and was named Australian of the Year in 2014 for his public work in the fight against racism and his advocacy in First Nations affairs. With a diploma in Aboriginal Studies and his own daughter approaching preschool age, Adam was motivated to publish a series of books for young children and families about Australia’s First Nations history.
When Laing’s eldest son came home from preschool reciting Acknowledgements of Country and singing Aboriginal lullabies, she was inspired to collaborate with Adam Goodes on a series of books aimed at helping families with young children to talk about Australia’s First Nations history.
Late last year, we were introduced to Somebody’s Land, the first book in the Welcome to Our Country series that introduces First Nations history, acknowledges the hurt of the past and joins together the community as one, with a precious shared history. Now, Goodes, Laing and Hardy have teamed up again with Ceremony, the second book in the co-written series.
Ceremony is a joyful celebration of the ancient and ongoing traditions of Adnyamathanha people and other clans, participating in Ceremony together. As a huge fan of the powerful and hopeful message in Somebody’s Land, I really admire the intimacy and personal feel to Ceremony. Sharing the traditional customs, ceremony and celebration of Aboriginal people, Ceremony is about the connection to community, and a true illustration of a culture and country that is not just in the past, but is celebrated today.
Like in Somebody’s Land, Hardy’s vibrant illustrations transform Goodes and Laing’s message of unity and celebration of culture into an accessible and easy-to-understand story for younger readers.
I thought the focus on language in this second book was extremely impactful. There are several Adnyamathanha words used, and if you’re new to this language, there is a visual glossary with the English meanings on the endpapers. Nangga! Nangga! Yakarti! (Welcome children come) is repeated on each spread. Naturally, this repetition encourages children to read along with you – it’s the ideal bedtime story!
Recommended for readers aged 4+, Ceremony is joyful and full of fun, and invites you to celebrate the rich traditions of dance, family, community and caring for Country from the world’s oldest continuous culture. It’s an essential read for all Australian children. Book #3 in the series, Back on Country, will be published in November 2022.
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