The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) has been awarded a prestigious international award for its work.
ILF works with 400 remote Indigenous communities to encourage children to read and write in their own languages, as well as English.
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation works with remote communities, publishing and providing books for children in their own languages as well as english. Source: AAP / Indigenous Literacy Foundation/PR Image
With a prize of five million Swedish kronor (AUD $725,000) it is the largest award of its kind in the world.
The award is given annually to a person or organisation for their outstanding contribution to children’s and young adult literature.
ILF chief executive and Wiradjuri man Ben Bowen said the foundation was "deeply honoured" to receive the award.
"When we talk about the history of Australia, we're only really a generation, maybe two, away from when we weren't allowed to speak or celebrate our languages," Mr Bowen said.
"For us to be able to work with elders and young people around the country now, not only working in their own languages, but they're fermenting the skills to put them into commercially viable published books that can reach the global stage. This is a huge leap forward.
"We talk about the value of storytelling and culture and language and all the knowledge that's contained within that and this award is absolutely validating that richness, and how much we need to celebrate these communities."
Boel Westin, chair of the award jury, said the foundation highlights the importance of all peoples' languages and stories.
"Their innovative activities, which build on respect, collaboration and sensitivity, are an inspiration for reading promotion work around the world," he said.
The announcement was made live from Stockholm and at the Bologna Children's Book Fair and ILF were the winners out of 245 candidates from 68 countries and regions.
Foundation head of publishing, Nicola Robinson, paid tribute to the many thousands of people who have donated or contributed to fundraising.
"This award could not have come about without the extraordinary work of many of Australia's remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, who trust the ILF with the stories they choose to tell, told in multiple languages and illustrated in community," she said.
