RÄRRIWUY GARRAMU MARIKA 'YALANGBARA IS MY HOMELAND'

Her new children's book is helping preserve First Nations language and culture for the next generation

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This week marks the 50th NAIDOC Week celebrations that honour and elevate Indigenous voices, culture and resilience.

For 2025, the theme is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, which celebrates the achievements of the past as well as the bright future ahead.

To celebrate, Woman's Day sat down with author, teacher, poet and translator Rärriwuy Garramu Marika, and illustrator Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs to talk about their children's book On The Way To Yalangbara, which is being published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Their book is written in both English and Yolngu to help preserve First Nations language and culture for the next generation.

Can you tell us a little bit about Yalangbara?

Rärriwuy Yalangbara is my homeland. It's situated southeast, in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Yalangbara is a sacred place to all the Yolngu people, all across East Arnhem Land.

Merrkiyawuy It's a very beautiful place. The water is clear and the freshwater hole is right next to the sea. A lot of turtles come up and lay their eggs all along the beach.

Rärriwuy, what is your book about?

It's a true story. We had a visit from a lady from Melbourne University and we decided to take her out to our homeland. But you have to know how to drive on sand. The car we travelled in wasn't even a 4WD as I said in my book – but no one listened. So I thought, let's go and you'll find out for yourself!