Indigenous Literacy Day was celebrated last 7 September Indigenous Literacy Day with two events, a live event at the Sydney Opera House in front of hundreds of children and a national digital event watched by over 200,000 people to date!
Indigenous Literacy Foundation CEO Ben Bowen said that the celebration was in collaboration with the Sydney Opera House and sponsor Lendlease online registration had over 2,800 registrations while the online event of the day garnered over 200,000 views.
“ILD 2022 was a celebration of the diversity, Cultures, Languages and strength of First Nations Communities. It was wonderful to [be] able to share such an uplifting event with so many of the ILF friends and supporters.” said Bowen.
The event had many special guests with spectacular activities and even launched a new fundraising initiative. ILF Ambassadors Jessica Mauboy and Gregg Dreise celebrated Stories, Cultures and Languages, performing Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, sung in Kamilaroi language while two very special guests and stars of the ILD Digital Event, Derek and Dean who travelled from Jilkminggan and Milikipati in the Northern Territory shared their languages in Tiwi and Mangarrayi.
ILF Co-Patron June Oscar AO and Joe and Remi Ross of traditional Dreamtime story also did a book reading of WINTHALI: FIRE (published by the ILF) in Bunuba and English.
ILF Ambassadors Josh Pyke and Justine Clarke launched a new fundraising initiative for the ILF called Busking for Change. The multi-literacy activity incorporates song, music, movement and language.
ILF Ambassador Josh Pyke says, “I launched Busking for Change (BFC)as a stand-alone fundraising event back in 2009 and over the next few years raised over $50,000 for the ILF, but I always thought it could be more than just a pub gig.”