Indigenous knowledge is one of the world’s oldest systems of learning and this can add tremendous power and effectiveness to the education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Jeff McMullen says when Indigenous children discover themselves in a book, see their community in a film or read on a website about the lives of their contemporaries, learning takes on a different meaning.

Ian Thoprpes Fountain for Youth is supporting remote communities to write their own stories and develop digital websites to express who they are and what they know.  We fund some of Australia’s leading children’s authors to work with schools in remote communities and guide Indigenous children as they tell their own stories.

Community Storytelling Books:

Ian Thorpe’s Fountain for youth has funded children’s writing workshops in Minyerri and Mataranka, Timber Creek and Bulla in the NT, by acclaimed author, Alison Lester and Illustrator Ann James.

In 2008 we funded the printing of From Little Things Big Things Grow, a children’s book about Vincent Lingiari’s struggle for land rights.

Author and illustrator, Liz Thompson has created the Sharing Our Stories series, with Elders and children in Wugularr, Jilkminggan & Maningrida NT, Jarlmadangah, Warburton & Purnululu WA.  Fountain for youth and the DEEWR are funding a new Series 2 of Sharing Our Stories in eight new communities, Liz has been working on this series throughout 2009 and will continue throughout 2010.  http://www.rigby.com.au/indigenous/

Link to the ABC AWAYE, Radio National Program to view the story, ‘Turtle Dreaming’, from Maningrida, NT:  http://www.abc.net.au/rn/awaye/stories/2008/2416293.htm

Community ‘Digital Storytelling:

Fountain for youth is supporting the Digital Storytelling Project, led by author, Liz Thompson, as Aboriginal students develop blogs in Wugularr, Jilkminggan and Bidyadanga.

Over a two week period students learn how to storyboard, create written stories, clips, audio recordings and digital images.  The communities are connected via the internet and other people from afar can exchange comments and stories.

View the work of the students, visit the Sharing Our Stories website:  http://www.sharingstories.com.au/