After an incredibly successful first year, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) are excited to invite primary schools across Australia to register for Busking for Change 2024.
This musical fundraiser was developed by ARIA award-winner and ILF Lifetime Ambassador Josh Pyke. Students learn and perform a song in a First Nations’ language and raise funds for the ILF to support more remote Indigenous Communities to access books and have their stories published in languages they speak at home.
“The kids were so engaged, and the atmosphere was mind blowing. It makes my heart sing when I hear students confidently pumping out words in Kriol, because the students have not only learned a new song, but they’ve also learned words in an Aboriginal language, a language that is widely spoken in the Northern parts of Australia,” Mr Pyke says.
The 2024 song is Shordi Krik, written in English and Kriol by the students at Barunga Remote Community School and ILF Lifetime Ambassador Justine Clarke.
“The Barunga Community holds a special place in my heart, as does this great song Shordi Krik, published as a beautiful book by the ILF and selected as the Busking for Change song for 2024,” says Ms Clarke.
“I have been working with the Barunga school kids since 2017. The students speak, sing and perform in multiple languages, including their common language, Kriol. Shordi Krik is the first original song they’ve written about their unique way of life in their beautiful Community, playing and fishing in the local creek. We want all of Australia to be singing it.”
Songs and music create connections to Indigenous languages
For teachers and schools, ILF Ambassador, author and specialist educator Shelley Ware says, “Busking for Change aligns with the National Curriculum – languages, music, art, drama, civic and citizenship, respectful relationships – the list goes on”.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for your school and your classrooms to connect with First Nations culture. Learn a song, change the world,” she says.
Ms Ware told EducationDaily that Busking for Change “creates a special moment for all children to connect with pride and joy, as they celebrate First Nations’ language through the song Shordi Krik”.
“It’s so important as we need children to celebrate, learn and connect to the beauty within First Nations histories and cultures and what better way than through song and music. Songs are the memories and stories of our people and together we should celebrate language to keep it alive and well today for all to share and learn,” she says.
Support and resources are available
The Busking For Change website provides schools with the charts, lyrics, instructional videos and support that allows teachers and students to learn the song in both English and Kriol. Primary schools can sign up now for the fundraiser, which will start nationally in week one of Term three. It culminates with entire schools, classrooms, groups or individual students performing their final busk on Indigenous Literacy Day, Wednesday 4 September.
ILF Ambassador and musician DOBBY says, “I’m a big supporter of the work that ILF does in both strengthening literacy and normalising Indigenous languages in school books. Music is an integral part of our Culture, and so naturally it is a very grounding way to engage and connect with Culture and Country. I’m proud and grateful to be able to use music in this way to learn and engage in Cultural knowledge.”
All registered schools that raise at least $50 will be sent a Busking for Change book pack with two ILF published bilingual children’s books – including Shordi Krik and Country Tells Us When – to help share the work of the ILF to their school community. There are also prizes for state and independent schools who raise the most funds, a small school prize and a special draw.
Time for truth-telling
Having worked as a classroom teacher for more 20 years, Ms Ware says she has seen first-hand the way the “majority of teachers in Australia were denied an education of the true history of this country”.
“So, we need to be upset about that as teachers and we can’t wait for our school or the department to run a professional development,” she told EducationDaily.
“We also need to stop hiding behind the phrases ‘I don’t know where to start’ and ‘I don’t want to offend’ and put those days are behind us. We are mandated to create a culturally safe space for all First Nations’ students and staff and the National Curriculum has finally caught up to where we need to be, as a country. So now it’s all about self-education and as teachers we promote lifelong learning to our students, to be open, honest and demonstrate this.”
Last year, 84 schools participated in ILF’s inaugural Busking for Change musical fundraiser, raising more than $81,000. This year, the aim is for 115 schools with a fundraising target of $110,000 for ILF’s Community Publishing program, supporting Communities to write and illustrate more of their own stories in their First Languages.
Ms Ware’s tips to become better at sharing First Nations’ stories and songs with all Australian students include diarising “time to read books, watch movies, TV shows and listen to podcasts by First Nations’ voices”.
The Busking for Change project calls on schools to connect with their local First Nations’ Community, invite them into your classroom, share your vulnerability with your students and connect to the truths and beauty within First Nations’ cultures.
“I highly recommend The Australian Wars series to connect to the truth of colonisation and the foundations this country lies on and The First Inventors series to connect to the beauty of First Nations’ peoples, cultures and histories,” Ms Ware says.
“Both are on SBS on-demand and both have teacher resources on SBS Learn that I have personally written. They are both a perfect place to start if you don’t know where to start.”
