First Nations Resources

Welcome to the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people. The people are part of the land, and the land is a part of them. Aboriginal communities across Australia have boundaries that are defined by mountain ranges and waterways. Traditionally, to cross these boundaries, permission is required. Each community has its own way of greeting, but the practice shares a common name: a Welcome to Country.
[First Nations author]

As ngua rises, Bunjil soars over mountain ash, flying higher and higher as the wind warms. Below, Birrarung begins its long winding path down to palem warreen.
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Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing's powerful words and David Hardy's pictures, full of life, invite children and their families to imagine themselves into Australia's past - to feel the richness of our First Nations' history, to acknowledge that our country was never terra nullius, and to understand what 'Welcome to Our Country' really means.
[First Nations author]

Welcome, children! Nangga! Nangga! Yakarti! Tonight will be our Ceremony. Our family gathers as the fire burns. The smoke rises up as we take it in turns . . . Then clapsticks tap - one, two, three - but a stick is missing! Where could it be? Joyful and full of fun, Ceremony invites you to celebrate the rich traditions of dance, family, community and caring for Country from the world's oldest continuous culture.
[First Nations author]

It's Lucy and David's first time back on Country. They meet their cousins and Elders, and see special places, learn local language words and hear stories as old as time. Join them to feel the strength that comes from being back on Country.
[First Nations author]

In this book, Isaiah establishes a foundation of First Nations knowledge with 20 key topics and connects us to each topic through his own personal story and culture, from the importance of Elders to the Dreaming.
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Come Together Again teaches young readers about the integral role music and performance have played in 60,000 years of First Nations history and culture.
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Each line speaks a different voice, each image stirs a different mood, and all combine to evoke the miracle of colour with which we are surrounded.
[First Nations author]

Represents a series of Australian landscapes and habitats in "patterns", as seen through the eyes of acclaimed indigenous artist Bronwyn Bancroft. Each landscape contains animals, birds, plants and flowers particular to that landscape hidden within it, accompanied by text evoking the place and listing the things to find. An opportunity to see the Australian environment in a new way, as they discover that there is so much more to see around us if we only look!
[First Nations author]

From boulders to bee hives, from mountains to coral, Bronwyn Bancroft explores the shapes that form the Australian landscape. She introduces readers to ways of thinking about how shapes are represented in nature.
[First Nations author]

A heart-warming aspirational picture book for new mums and babies from First Nations tennis champion and new mum, Ash Barty, with Jasmin McGaughey and Jade Goodwin, the bestselling team behind Little Ash. A loving story about a mother's hopes and dreams for her new baby.
[First Nations author]

The juluum (mountain) watches over us as we walk proudly on Country. Me, Jinda, Miimi and Gami take note of all the subtle changes in natureas we walk up, up the rocky path towards the peaks. Join the family as they journey through the mountains, observing animals, plants and trees, waterways and high peaks. Their ancestors and the mountain watch over them. A lyrical and heart-stirring series by Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood. Gumbaynggirr translation included.
[First Nations author]

There was a hum of excitement. Flags flickered in the breeze as Maggie's heart danced. Maggie holds tight to her mother as they await the long anticipated apology. A retelling of the day when the then Prime Minister of Australia acknowledged the sorrows of past and said sorry to the generation of children who were taken from their homes.

A board book for the very young that tracks the amazing migration of turtles featuring vibrant Indigenous artwork by Balarinji. Did the whale with the slapping, splashing tail see Turtle? Maybe it was the fish with the glittery, shimmering scales? Follow the migration of Turtle through seas and oceans as she returns home to lay her eggs.

Kangaroos Hop helps children identify favourite Australian animals in the Australian landscape. The kangaroos hop, the butterflies fly, the echidnas shuffle across the land and down to the water's edge where a sleepy crocodile lies...Shhhh! The lively illustrations and cumulative text help readers identify animals as well as verbs.

Winthali is a traditional Bunuba story, adapted here by Joe Willigan Ross and Stacey Bush. Greedy Old Man Crocodile (Lallanggarra) won't share his fire with the Bunuba people, but Brown Falcon (Girrganyi), with the help of the young ones, has a clever plan to bring fire out into the open. This story belongs to the Danggu people of the Fitzroy Valley.
[First Nations author]

One crocodile with many sharp teeth, two snake-necked turtles swimming in a billabong, three water goannas soaking up the sun... Learn to count with the animals of Australia's West Arnhem Land and the traditional art of indigenous Kunwinjku culture.
[First Nations author]

This story comes from the Aboriginal people at Warmun (Turkey Creek) in Western Australia. It was told in the Kija language by Jacko Dolumyu and then in English by Hector Jandany. The illustrations are adapted from paintings of the story done by the children living at Warmun.
[First Nations author]

What can you see? Follow the clues that landscape, seasons, weather, the stars, the moon and the sun give to navigate bush tracks and find the Australian animal.

Owl loved to watch the sparkle of the stars. He would sit out on his tree at dusk and wait for them to appear. One evening, Owl became worried. His favourite little star had not shown herself. Owl searched far and wide. Where could Little Star be?
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A unique picture book collaboration about having fun, sharing culture and the power of story and dance. A picture book to get the whole town dancing.
[First Nations author]

A warm and witty tale about a hungry crow who has to be very clever when he is searching for food. Clever Crow is presented in English and Djambarrpuynu, one of the many Yolnu languages of the Indigenous people of North East Arnhem Land.
[First Nations author]

A tender, thoughtful story - a gentle reminder of all the ways sharing makes us stronger. Part of the Our Place series which introduces children to culture. This is how we share, how we care for Country, how we care for each other.
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Our Way is old. Older than the red earth. Older than flickering stars.Our way is respect. A tender, thoughtful story reminding us to respect others and respect ourselves.
[First Nations author]

Family, Heart and home, Yarning old people, Endless sky. Family is a thoughtful contemplation for all to learn the different ways that family makes us whole. This beautifully illustrated children's picture book shows everyone that 'family' can be about heart and home; an endless sky; stories and songs. It 'learns' us how to be with each other and with Country.
[First Nations author]

A Ngarinyin legend about the sun. This book is based on a story told by David Mowaljarlai, of the Ngarinyin tribe, to Aboriginal children living in the Kimberleys, Western Australia. The illustrations are adapted from their paintings of the story.