Preserving Culture Through Bilingual Books: A Community Success Story

In a significant achievement for cultural preservation and education, Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation's Land and Learning Bilingual Resources Project has successfully created ten bilingual Pitjantjatjara books this year, serving schools and communities across Central Australia.

The project has made a particular impact in Areyonga, where the community is celebrating 50 years of bilingual education.

"We love making books in our language (Pitjantjatjara) about learning on country, about bush trips, country visits and important things that our children need to learn," shares a community member from Areyonga. These books capture essential cultural knowledge, from traditional stories to contemporary learning experiences.



Empowering Young Readers and Culture Bearers

The impact of these resources extends beyond the classroom. As one young student proudly states, "It makes me feel really proud to show my family books that I have made at school. I can read my language and teach people about my culture."

The project's success lies in its collaborative approach, with the project officer facilitating learning-on-country activities that inform the books' content. This hands-on approach ensures the resources remain culturally relevant and engaging for students.

Looking to the Future

Community members express their gratitude and optimism: "We are really happy to be able to read our kids' books that we have made with Tangentyere about our culture and language. Old stories about living on the land are really important to us."

The project exemplifies how traditional knowledge can be preserved and shared through modern educational resources. As one teacher notes, "We want to teach all subjects at school in a way that our students can engage with," highlighting the project's role in supporting holistic education that honors cultural knowledge.

The creation of these bilingual resources marks not just an educational milestone, but a celebration of cultural continuity and community empowerment.

This project is supported by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) through the Aboriginal Benefit Account (ABA) Building and Resources Program.