Indigenous Literacy Day 2026 to feature film, music and book launch
This year’s Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD) will take place next Wednesday 2 September under the theme “Country Is Our Teacher”.
An event at the Sydney Opera House on the day, to be hosted by Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) ambassador Lucas Proudfoot, will include a film screening, music performance and the launch of the bilingual English and Ngaanyatjarra picture book My Walk Through the Seasons on Ngaanyatjarra Country by Warakurna Elder Daisy Tjuparntarri Ward.
During the film, audiences will meet Niningka and Chris, two young Aboriginal people from Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and Nyirripi in the Northern Territory, as they explore Warlpiri and Arrernte language, plants, animals, culture and caring for Country. Following the film, the live stream “will take audiences on an exploration of Sky Country, with ILF ambassadors and astrophysicists Dr Kirsten Banks and Krystal De Napoli exploring the connections between the stars, Sky Country, science, culture and storytelling”.
The event will also feature ILF ambassadors DOBBY and Josh Pyke performing the 2026 Busking for Change song, “MINYAN NGABANGKA” (“What’s in the Water?”). Co-written by DOBBY, First Nations artist Kelsey Iris and children from Brewarrina, the song features Murrawarri language and celebrates children’s connection to water, Country and Community.
“It’s very important for us to come together on days like Indigenous Literacy Day to think, reflect and celebrate stories, cultures and languages,” said ILF CEO Ben Bowen. “At the ILF, we have an incredible privilege that many Communities trust us with their stories, and it is our honour to showcase them to Australia and to the world. The knowledges celebrated in this year’s ILD reminds us that Country is our greatest teacher and invites us to pay respect to the diverse cultures across this vast continent.”
The free Indigenous Literacy Day event begins at 10.30 am AEST and will be available to watch on demand.
More information about the event and the link to register is available on the ILF website.
Category: Local news
