A cross-cultural storytelling project facilitated by the University of Newcastle is celebrating the environmental and cultural significance of wetlands and waterways, connecting communities in the Hunter with the Pacific.
In Australia, an Aboriginal children’s story centred on wetlands and waterways has been produced as a children’s book, brought to life through artwork created by primary school students at Woodberry Public School. The story was reimagined collaboratively by language revitalisation initiative Wiyala Palay and members of the Wonnarua community, developed through community consultation to ensure cultural integrity. The student artwork reflects a strong sense of place and the ongoing significance of wetlands and waterways on Wonnarua Country.
Tammy Hunter, of Wiyala Palay, said the project was an important form of documentation for generations of stewardship knowledge held by the Wonnarua people.
“Working with our community and local students to bring this story to life has been incredibly special. It shows how storytelling continues to strengthen our cultural knowledge, our language, and our connection to Country,” she said.
The project, supported by the Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program, has a companion story in Samoa, where a village-led production from Moata’a Primary School in Apia has produced a dual-language digital story exploring the cultural and ecological significance of mangroves.
Both the Wonnarua children’s book and the Samoan wetlands animation will be shared with schools in Australia and Samoa, supporting ongoing learning and cross-cultural exchange between the communities.
