Alison Lester is an ambassador for the Indigneous Literacy Foundation, a not-for-profit which gifts thousands of new culturally appropriate books - with a focus on early literacy and first language - to children around Australia. It also runs programs to inspire communities to tell and publish their own stories.
She contacted the foundation after years of visiting schools in remote communites. One of the first places she visited about 20 years ago as an artist in residence was Gunbalanya, an Aboriginal community in west Arnhem Land.
"It was the start of a lovely relationship - we made books, painted murals, did plays. It was a really lovely connection," she said.
"Then other schools asked if I could go and visit them and I've been doing so ever since.
"I feel like it's an incredible privilege and it's always thrilling to go out and see the children and watch what they create with these beautiful art supplies.
"It's so important that these children have their own lives and communities reflected in their books."
The foundation has supplied more than 440,000 books to 400-plus communities, 40 per cent by Indigenous authors and illustrators. Through its Community Literacy Projects, the the foundation has published books in many Aboriginal languages.
September 2 is Indigenous Literacy Day, and to celebrate Lester will join other ambassadors including singer Jessica Mauboy and special guest Archie Roach, along with children from Jilkminggan and the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory, for a special YouTube live event.
More information at indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au
Geraldine Cardozo
Features Editor at The Senior.
Features Editor at The Senior.
