Indigenous Australia a powerful presence in the National Year of Reading

Indigenous cultural leaders are throwing their weight behind a campaign to get Australia reading.

Kunggadji and Birri-gubba writer and children’s laureate Boori Monty Pryor is inspiring a new generation of readers as an ambassador for the National Year of Reading (NYR).

Other Indigenous ambassadors include writers Marie Munkara and Anita Heiss. And Aboriginal singer Shelley Morris is promoting NYR’s touring exhibition, which starts its travels around the country in her home of Darwin.

Pryor and Morris brought their trademark energy and passion to the gala launch of NYR when it was opened by Prime Minister Julia Gillard recently at the National Library of Australia in Canberra.

Pryor was chief storyteller at the event, entertaining primary school kids and adults alike, while Morris appeared by video from Darwin, surrounded by Indigenous youngsters.

One of the aims of NYR is to help all Australians understand that reading builds more satisfying, secure and productive lives.

“Reading is a way to survive,” said Pryor. “It’s like traditional hunting. With hunting, if you don’t listen and learn from what other people tell you – through their stories and by letting them take you to special places – you won’t survive. Literacy is similar. We’re going to make a better nation if we can all read and write.”

A strong theme of the launch was the link between reading and citizenship.

“To be able to read is a form of enfranchisement just like having the vote,” said the Prime Minister. “It’s a passport to full participation in the life of the community.”

Patron of NYR is actor and writer William McInnes, who described how reading and writing can unify and heal.

“What we know is that the journey of the written word is open to all, and that is why the national year of reading is important – because it has no partisan colours,” he said.

“It embraces all Australians, and any initiative that seeks to dissolve the barriers that can sometimes separate Australians – be they self-imposed or by matters of circumstance – should be very welcome.”

Speaking about his own approach to getting young Indigenous kids reading and writing, Pryor stressed it was always a two-way process.

“Each community is different, so I’m a plasticine black fella, pushed into shape wherever I go, to become what’s needed,” he explained. “It’s not about me imposing what I think is needed. It’s them imposing on me what they think they need to know.

“If you listen to the children they will show you how to teach them. If you don’t do that you get nothing and you give nothing.”

Around 4.5 million working age Australian adults don’t have the level of literacy and numeracy they need to succeed at work or study. The National Year of Reading, supported by the Australian Government, will help combat this by helping Australians understand the benefits of reading, promoting a culture of reading in every home, and encouraging parents to share books with their children every day.