After travelling more than 3500km, students from Yakanarra Community School in Western Australia have launched their song book at the National Library of Australia in Canberra.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The students and elders presented the Yakanarra Song Book, a collection of 14 illustrated songs about place, animals, hunting and fishing, most of which were written in the Walmajarri language.
"It's a massive day because the children have been practicing in their language, they've written, they've illustrated the book, they've travelled here and now they've had to sing the songs and perform them in a world that's so different from their own," Yakanarra principle Helen Unwin said.
The students performed three songs from the book with elders Jessie Moora and Mary Vanbee taking the lead.
"I'm feeling very proud because they've done a mighty job," Ms Unwin said. "English isn't their first language, it's their third, so to have to perform in a situation that is just so different is amazing."
The book was created with the help of Indigenous Literacy Foundation ambassadors, Alison Lester and Chris Aitken.
Mrs Lester, who helped with the illustrations said she was "very proud" to have worked with the children in creating the book.
"Just in a short week, the children have made the most beautiful illustrations that you could imagine," Mrs Lester said.
"The songs were made up in the late 80s by Jessie and Mary and it was a little paper back book," she said.
"The school were keen to do it as a hardback book and so the Indigenous Literacy Foundation came on board and I came out there in 2014 and helped with the illustrations."
Only 25 per cent of Indigenous students in remote Australia meet the minimum standard for reading and writing, compared to 90 per cent of non-Indigenous students, according to the 2016 NAPLAN results.
"The really heart-breaking thing is that you see kids at this age and they are capable of anything and they could go anywhere but many, many children don't get the chance to fulfil their potential and this is helping readdress the balance of it."
The book was launched on Indigenous Literacy Day, with the aim to spread the word about improving literacy levels and opportunities for Indigenous children in remote areas.
Indigenous Literacy Foundation Executive director, Karen Williams said the day was "better than she could imagine".
"For us it's about community, they wanted to preserve the language and for it to be passed down to their children," Ms Williams said.
"Our role is really small, we just assisted them to do that."
