We Look, We Find

We Look, We Find By women and children from Napranum Community

Using a kwe’, to hunt at low tide.

Looking for cha’angg, where do they hide?

F ishing off ‘arrighi, at Gonbung Beach.

Caught some alandhak, one for each.

Poking through the pee la, with our stick.

Caught a mbyugh, roast it, quick!

Feeling in the prul, it was late.

Found some ‘akul, put them on a plate.

Walking through the la’ayn, swaying in the breeze.

Saw a long egher, stop now! Freeze!

Following the ndwapayn, to dig a deep hole.

Found a long kwi ’ith, cook it in the coals.

High up in the thund, a shadow weaves.

Noisy ngga’nggar laughing, and dancing among the leaves.

Listen to the guiree, in the night sky.

Feeding on layndhi, squabbling up high.

Sitting by the errenh, under the setting sun.

LOOK! A sneaky kyembal,

G ET UP ! !

K C I U R Q

UUUN!!

Glossary Thaynakwith Word

Phonetic Pronunciation

English Word

kwe’

kweh

spear

cha’angg

chaa aang

stingray

‘arrighi

aarighi

rocks

alandhak

aalaanduk

barramundi

pee la

pee la

mangroves

mbyugh

my oogh

mud crab

prul

prool

mud

‘akul

akul

mudshell

la’ayn

line

grass

egher

eher

snake

ndwapayn

dwapine

vine

kwi’ith

kweeth

yam

thund

thoond

tree

ngga’nggar

gaa gaar

kookaburra

guiree

gwiree

bat

layndhi

linedee

mango

errenh

erren

river

kyembal

kumbul

crocodile

Acknowledgements This storybook is the result of a collaborative story writing and art workshop held in the Napranum Community during 2021.

Napranum PaL Group acknowledges Thaynakwith Elders past, present and emerging and thanks them for their permission to feature Thaynakwith language words in this story.

Contributors to the story: Andrewena Hudson, Flora Pitt, Kaylene Jawai, Relena Ara, Zui Gara, Patricia Schuh, Roshni Senapati, Chris Hanrahan, Tricia Buxton Contributing Artists: Marsha Hall, Kaylene Jawai, Andrewena Hudson, Relena Ara, Rachael Ara, Flora Pitt, Felane Hall, Patricia Schuh, Amy Peter, April Schuh, Natasha Smith, Mali Jai Children contributing art: Ally, Peyton, Kendrick, Kitana, Josiah, Chloe, Aurora

About the Indigenous Literacy Foundation The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) is a national charity working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander remote Communities across Australia. We are Community-led, responding to requests from remote Communities for culturally relevant books, including early learning board books, resources, and programs to support Communities to create and publish their stories in languages of their choice. In 2024 the ILF won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, given annually to a person or organisation for their outstanding contribution to children’s or young adult literature.

First published in 2022 by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation This board book edition published in 2026 Gadigal Country Level 17/207 Kent Street Sydney NSW 2000 ilf.org.au Copyright © Napranum PaL Group, 2022 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations) in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Cataloguing-in-Publication details are available from the National Library of Australia. www.trove.nla.gov.au ISBN 9781923456693 Design by Lee Burgemeestre and Holly Doran Printed in China by RR Donnelley Asia Printing Solutions Limited

About this book: Community: Napranum Country: Alngith Language: Thaynakwith

When walking on Country, what comes to your mind?

If you spend some time looking, what will you find?

N TO TH TE

RY STO HE

RE

E

ISBN 9781923456693

LIS 9 781923 456693

ilf.org.au