Developed by Gunai poet Kirli Saunders and delivered by Red Room Poetry, Poetry in First Languages (PIFL) celebrates, shares and preserves knowledge of First Nations languages and culture through poetry, music and art.
Red Room Poetry brought PIFL to Gadigal country, with the support of Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, NASCA and Art Gallery of NSW.
On 5 November 2018, students from Alexandria Park Community School, Laramba School and Ntaria School connected to culture, country and language through poetry, art, bush medicine and traditional Indigenous Games. Poems from the project in language were published in a poetic art installation at the Gardens from December 2018.
Language and poetry workshops were facilitated by RR poet Kirli Saunders and Gadigal language custodian Joel Davison. The project mainly focused on Gadigal language, but NT students were encouraged to write in their own First Languages, Anmatjere/ Warlpiri and Western Arrernte.
