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Indigenous Literacy Foundation publish Geigi The Stubborn Boy, a Torres Strait Islander Creation Story for young readers

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation

Key Facts:

Book: Geigi The Stubborn Boy

Authors: Elliott and Michael Passi (Torres Strait Islander)

Publisher:Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF)

Themes: Listening to Elders, family, courage, Creation story

Availability: Available now through the ILF online bookshop and good bookstores.

 

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) is proud to publish Geigi The Stubborn Boy, a beautifully illustrated children’s book by Torres Strait Islanders Michael and Elliot Passi.

This book shares the importance of listening to your Elders, the extraordinary lengths a mother will go to save her son, and a Creation story that explains the behaviour of the Giant Trevally and Triggerfish, which you can still see today in the clear blue waters around Mer, Dauer and Waier. 

“The story is an adaptation or retelling of a Traditional Torres Strait story that my grandparents, Aunties and Uncles used to tell me while I was sitting on Zomered village on Mer,” says author Michael Passi.

“While waves were coming in, they would tell me this story. And sometimes you'd even see Geigi coming in and splashing amongst the sardines whilst telling the story.”

For co-author and illustrator Elliot Passi, representation was central to the project.

“I remember growing up with books like How The Butcher Birds Got Their Colours and I love those books. But I wanted there to be more from the Torres Strait Islands,” Elliot says.

“Knowing that a kid who is like me could pick up this book and say ‘Oh, I know this story, this place’ or ‘oh this is the Torres Strait Islands – this is like me’, that fills me with a lot of joy.”

The project marks the first book the pair have published together, combining Michael’s traditional storytelling knowledge with Elliot’s contemporary illustration style.

“This is the first book we've published together, but we've written and told stories our whole lives.” Our culture is storytellers,” says Elliot.

ILF Publishing Projects Editor Nea Close-Brown says the story immediately stood out to the publishing team.

“The story is special because it pulls you in. It reveals to the reader knowledge of a far-away place, yet stays with you in moments that chime as familiar – familiar messages about listening to your Elders and what happens when you muck around.”

Beyond celebrating Torres Strait Islander storytelling, Michael hopes the book will introduce more Australians to Torres Strait culture.

“Once we got south of the Queensland border, no one really knew about Torres Strait Islanders, their culture, or anything regarding us,” he says.

“So just having that little seed planted in people's minds about the second Indigenous culture in Australia is what I want.”

Geigi The Stubborn Boy is a Traditional Torres Strait Islands story published by the ILF. Available now through the ILF online shop  https://shop.ilf.org.au/ and all good bookstores.

About the authors and illustrator 

Michael Passi is a Torres Strait Islander man who enjoys telling traditional stories to a modern audience and recently left the recently left the public service to start his own Consultancy business. He loves his culture, coming up with ideas for projects, and writing television and movie scripts as well as comedy sketches, including co-writing a skit for the television show Black Comedy. Michael wanted to tell this story because he has a passion for storytelling and a drive to see more Torres Strait Islander culture featured in Australia.

Elliot Passi is a 23-year-old Torres Strait Islander artist who enjoys all things creative and nerdy, from drawing characters to playing Dungeons & Dragons. Passionate about culture and storytelling, Elliot wanted to tell this story because they grew up reading many creation stories but never saw stories from their own people represented. They hopes this book gives young Torres Strait Islander readers the representation they didn’t have growing up.

Editor Notes: Events 

• Brisbane – Authors available after lunch on 8 June for interview and at event on 9^th June State Library Queensland. A forum with the theme Create to Connect: First Languages in Action, highlighting the many ways Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are being strengthened, shared and celebrated through community, creativity, education and cultural practice. 
• https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/discover/first-nations-cultures/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-languages/yuuingan-dhilla
• National Library of Australia 30 June at 2pm Free Author talk live streaming event for students nationally 
• https://www.library.gov.au/whats-on/events/naidoc-week-online-author-talk-geigi-stubborn-boy
• Townsville book launch - 29^th June –https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/book-launch-for-geigi-the-stubborn-boy-tickets-1985225731604
• Cairns Book Launch - Monday 5 July
• https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/book-launch-of-geigi-the-subborn-boy-tickets-1985226315350

About us:

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) is a national charity working with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities across Australia. They 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.      

Contact details:

For interviews, please contact: 

Jackie Evans 0407 776 222

[email protected]