Indigenous Literacy Foundation CEO Ben Bowen presents a keynote on the power of books, language and storytelling to strengthen culture and Community.

Presented in connection with Wangka Wakaṉutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre, this talk reflects on the role of books in connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with language, culture and stories.

Ben will speak about the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s Community-led commitment to creating and sharing books in First Languages, and the positive impact this work has for children, families and Communities.

Drawing on the idea of language cultivation in comparison to preservation, Ben will explore how living languages continue to grow when they are spoken, read, written and shared. He will also discuss the ILF programs that support Communities to create, publish and celebrate their own stories.