Elders Response to Newspaper Article about Margaret James and HARs
Children love Margaret reading the Honey Ant Readers’ Colours Book to them!
Honey Ant Readers (Pty) Ltd and its director, Margaret James, recently received criticism in a national newspaper and on-line regarding the use of, and the funding for, the Honey Ant Readers (HARs) at Yipirinya School in Alice Springs. Whilst HARs and Margaret strongly deny any and all of the accusations, we considered it far more useful for you to read the testimonials below from many of the Elders involved in the use of the Readers at Yipirinya School. These Elders either started Yipirinya School, are descendants of the Founders of the school, or were elected members and office bearers on the Yipirinya School Council. The current president and members making public claims against the HAR project were not at the school at the time the project commenced and have never worked with Margaret in any capacity. The Elders in the community have always supported the continued publication of the Honey Ant Readers for the benefit of the entire Aboriginal community, and not just Yipirinya. Yipirinya School is only one of many schools to have used the HARs. The full series of the books are used in every State and Territory in Australia.
There are currently 15 different early Readers in English, 15 early Readers in light Aboriginal English, 21 early Readers in Traditional languages, 4 stand-alone books, 1 big book in Lockhart River Creole, 5 books as support workbooks, writing and drawing books, a Teacher’s Handbook (hard copy and digital to give quick access to curriculum links), matching ebooks, apps for ipad and android devices, card games, board games, and many songs and rhymes to support acquisition of Standard English. These are in circulation in all States and Territories in Australia, benefitting many young Aborigines of all ages in learning to read in their own language, from texts in which they are the central characters and their environment is the backdrop – while being scaffolded across to reading and speaking in Standard English. HARs also delivers professional development training to teachers and support staff across the country. We advocate for Aboriginal English and Traditional Aboriginal language speakers.
HARs will certainly continue with its work on providing this valuable learning tool for Aboriginal children and young adults, with the support and encouragement of the Elders.
(Margaret is a very senior Arrernte Elder and has been a Life Member of Yipirinya School Council since the School’s inception. She is one of the Founding Members of the School, the only surviving Founding Member today. She edited the Arrernte editions of HARs). “We gave her permission to use the stories for the children. Margaret came to us and we gave her ideas for the children to learn reading. Good pictures to help. Good to have our stories, not sacred stories, everyday stories. All grandmothers tell their kids how to get honey ants. We are very happy with the books. It is good Margaret did the books. She should keep doing more.”
(Benedict is a senior Arrernte Elder, the son of Thomas Stevens, one of the Founders of Yipirinya School. Benedict was a Life Member of the Council for many years and was President at the time Margaret’s copyright agreement was signed. Benedict worked with Margaret on the HAR translations) “Doing the books was a very good idea. They help kids to read just by looking at the pictures. Same as dot paintings. They are keeping culture alive. We gave Margaret permission. She asked me first and I said yes. I support Margaret and want her to continue her work. She is doing a great job and new books for young people in jail will be great – learning to read and write”.
(Margaret K Turner OAM is a very senior and renowned Arrernte Elder and a nationally recognised author. She has been a long-time supporter of Yipirinya School). “Margaret put down exactly what our kids need to learn, using our culture. Pictures ideal for the stories for our children to learn. Very good that she has translated books into so many languages. Elders and Council approved the work. Margaret’s stories are public stories not sacred stories. These books are lovely – we never had them when we were young. She should go on doing stories especially about culture and hunting for our children today. We should be using these books at home at night with our kids.”
(Amelia is a Central Arrernte Elder and has been an elected Member of Yipirinya School Council for many years, and also an Office Bearer) “The Honey Ant Readers are very good for little ones. The kids see their own things and in their own language. Illustrations help. The books help kids to learn to read. Margaret did it the way Elders wanted it – how Elders said it. Margaret must keep going.”
Marjorie is a senior Western Arrernte Elder. She has been an elected Member of Yipirinya School Council for many years and until recently was also a language teacher at the School. She has helped with the translation of the Readers into Indigenous languages). “They are good books. The kids are really learning. Just normal stories, not sacred. The council wanted Margaret to do this, gave her permission. Pictures help kids. Good not to have white fella stories. Good to keep languages alive. Margaret wrote her own stories with our help. We want her to continue doing books with us.”
Trudy Inkamala and Dulcie Sharpe
(Trudy has been a Life Member of Yipirinya School Council, taking over from Kwementye Raggett. Her late husband, Ingkarte Inkamala was a long standing President of the Council. Trudy assisted Margaret in the early development of the Honey Ant Readers and asked for three of her family stories (not sacred stories) to be included in the first 15 books. Dulcie, a very close friend of Trudy, has also been a longstanding elected Member of Yipirinya School Council – Luritja Representative). “Good books for kids and for people to learn. Reminds the kids what the grandmothers tell. Learning things the old ways. Pictures help learning words. Not true that Margaret took our stories. Most of the stories are Margaret’s.”
Trudy: “My stories I wanted her to use. I gave permission. Council Members all agreed. Good the books translated, keep our language strong.”
(Mervyn is the son of Wenten Rubuntja, one of the Founding members of Yipirinya School and a very distinguished and renowned Arrernte Elder. Mervyn has been a Life member of the Council and Office Bearer for many years and is a highly respected Arrernte Elder himself and an artist with national and international recognition). “I support the Honey Ant Readers. Not special stories, just kids stories, normal stories. The Council approved the books – everybody happy about them. Margaret wrote the books. Margaret should go on with the books and new ones.”
(Malcolm has been an elected Member of Yipirinya School Council for many years – Anmatjera Language representative- and has also been an office Bearer, including Vice President) “I think the books are good. They are the sort of books Yipirinya needed. Good to have the pictures helping the kids. The books made for them.