Posties celebrate the start of UN Decade of Indigenous Languages

Australia Post delivery professionals will be out and about in various communities helping children to connect to Indigenous languages through storytelling in acknowledgement of the start of the United Nations’ Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032).

The visits are part of Australia Post’s ongoing support of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), and will include special live readings of Moli det bigibigi (Molly the Pig), a bilingual story written in Kriol and English and authored by Binjari woman Karen Manbulloo.

Australia Post Head of Community Nicky Tracey said she was excited that the book, published by the ILF, will be shared directly with communities across the country and help to introduce children and adults to the joy of Australia’s most widely spoken Aboriginal language today, Kriol.

“Our partnership with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation helps to ensure children across Australia have access to quality books, and more than 40 per cent of these feature Indigenous authors or illustrators,” Ms Tracey said.

Australia Post National Indigenous Manager Barbara Sheehy said she was proud of the way the organisation’s community activities connect more Australians with First Nations culture.

“This joyous and fun book, written by Karen, a proud Binjari woman, and illustrated by the Binjari Buk Mob, complements the overall work we do towards reconciliation by connecting with others through language and storytelling,” Ms Sheehy said.

Moli det bigibigi will also be available for $9.99 at participating Australia Post outlets and online from 28 February 2022. Free bookmarks will also allow readers to scan a QR code to watch a video of the author reading the story and view an animated version of the Binjari Buk Mob’s illustrations.

For more information on Australia Post’s partnership with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation please see here, where readers can also download children’s activities, which include a make-your-own Moli mask, a bilingual word search and a Moli-themed memory game.