Celebrating NAIDOC Week with Magabala Books

For NAIDOC Week, NIYEC had the privilege of celebrating alongside Magabala Books, Australia’s leading Indigenous publishing house. In the spirit of this year’s theme – The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy – Magabala generously gifted a powerful collection of books to our young mob. Each work, written and illustrated by First Nations authors and artists, carries deep wisdom, creativity, and cultural strength.

Our young people immersed themselves in these stories, connecting with the voices and visions of those who came before and reflecting on what it means to carry this legacy forward. A special thank you to Rylie, a proud Gangalu Year 12 student, for her thoughtful review of Us Mob Walawurru (2006) by David Spillman and Lisa Wilyuka:

“Us Mob Walawurru is a powerful and moving story that is both deeply grounded in First Nations culture and confronting in its portrayal of the challenges facing Indigenous communities in remote Australia.

“It awakens readers to the injustices, racism, and difficulties that surround First Nations people.

“At its heart, the novel is a story of identity, resilience, hope, and cultural pride, even in the face of great adversity.

“What I really loved was its honest and respectful portrayal of First Nations life, culture, and language.

“The inclusion of Luritja words and phrases grounds the story in Country and highlights the importance of language in preserving culture and identity.

“While the novel addresses tough realities, it does so with sensitivity, showing how storytelling can be a source of healing and empowerment.”

We are deeply grateful to Magabala Books for their generosity, and for continuing to champion the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytellers.