Students from Tiwi College write and publish a book in just 5 days!

Two weeks ago the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) proudly supported 11 young women from Tiwi College to travel to Sydney to write and illustrate a book in a week through the Create Initiative program. 

The Create Initiative involves the writing, illustrating, editing, publishing and launching a book in just 5 days. This is an incredible achievement given this venture usually takes authors and publishes around a year or more to complete.

This year, the program was proudly sponsored by ILF’s Partner Australia Post, and supported by Publishing Partner Hachette Australia. 

The 2023 Create book: Tiwi Girl Hunters, and the 2024 sequel: Tiwi Girl Hunters- Apikirayiwi

The Create week is structured with 2 fun days, 3 working days, and 1 book launch day. 

On Saturday the students flew into Sydney from the Tiwi Islands and it was straight to Luna Park the next day.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the students wrote and illustrated the entire story with the help of ILF Ambassadors Shelley Ware, David Lawrence, and publishers from Hachette Australia, Jeanmarie and Jackie. 

Students working on their book with ILF Ambassador Shelley Ware 

The title of their book is Tiwi Girl Hunters- Apikirayiwi.

It is the sequel to the book written on last year’s Create Initiative program. In the first book, besties Lola and Maryanne are extremely excited on their camping trip because it is their first time hunting on their own. 

Tiwi Girl Hunters- Apikirayiwi is also about Lola and Maryanne, but this time they’re hunting in boats with each of their dads. 

This story is both funny and cultural; and showcases Tiwi hunting, Community life, and language. 

Planning out their story before editing

On Thursday the students got to celebrate their achievements while the books were being printed. They went shopping in the city and explored Sydney CBD. 

Friday was the big book launch in Darling Harbour Theatre. There were speeches by ILF Programs Coordinator and past Create student, Bella Puruntatameri, as well as their Teacher Ashlee, Mentors Shelley, David and Publisher Jeanmarie. 

We heard some pages read aloud by some of the students and all celebrated the incredible book that they would be bringing home with them to Tiwi. 

Hachette Australia was able to print just enough for the launch event. Now the rest of the copies are being printed for the Community to enjoy

The book is now in print, and will be commercially available once the Community has their book launch early next year. We can’t wait to share this book with you! Keep an eye on our shop page for all ILF’s new releases.

The Create Initiative has been running with the ILF for around 10 years. It is an extremely important part of the ILF’s work and an incredible opportunity to showcase the brilliant minds and stories of students from remote Indigenous Communities.

Written by Ella Schofield