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Stories have played an important role in First Nations cultures since time immemorial. They are the foundation of First Nations ways of thinking, being and knowing. They carry knowledge and Law, and teach us how to care for Country.
The stories are shared online to everyone that signs up. All you need to do is sign up with an email address. The films will arrive in your inbox at the beginning of each day during the week.
Everyone who signs up also gets access to free, educational resources. The resources will help you guide safe and informative learning with the young people in your life, whether you’re a parent, an Early Childhood educator or a school teacher.
The resources are developed by Common Ground and teachers, and are mapped to the relevant education curriculums to ensure everyone can learn from these stories, understand their meaning and appreciate their significance.
HOW IT WORKS
1. SIGN UP
To join us for a week of storytelling. This gives you access to the five films, plus free educational resources.
2. We’ll send the stories to your inbox
During the week, you will get an email in your inbox early each day, with a link to watch the stories. We send one story each day for five days. You’ll also receive our incredible learning resources to help you understand the stories and learn from them. There are different resources for different needs - Early Childhood, Primary School, and families at home.
3. Watch the stories during the week
We invite you to join people all over the continent (and the world!) to watch one story each day over five days. Of course you can watch them all at once, or at any time that suits you. Joining in during the week means watching the stories alongside hundreds of thousands of others.
4. Learn, reflect and connect
Make sure you put aside time to properly reflect on the stories and deepen your learning. With the resource we send you, this is easy. The resource outline lesson ideas including activities and worksheets. They have prompts to inspire discussion and links to other resources to explore.
5. Donate, if you can
Forever Stories is brought to you by Common Ground, a First Nations not-for-profit. These stories and the accompanying resources are free for everyone to enjoy and learn from. Please make a donation if you can, so we can continue this important initiative next year.Learn more about the impact this project has and where donations go. We encourage schools to collect small donations from students through gold coin donations, casual clothes days, or holding assemblies for viewing the stories. You can make a donation now, when we send you the stories, or after you’ve viewed them.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
We work with First Nations communities across Australia to record their stories, their ways. This project creates a positive impact for First Nations People and non-indigenous people. This impact is guided by Common Ground’s objectives as a not-for-profit.Learn more about the impact of this project by clicking the link below.
IMPACT
91% of Australians feel the relationship between non-Indigenous and First Nations people is important. But only 34% believe they have a high level of knowledge about First Nations cultures.
Forever Stories exists to bring connection, truth and deeper understanding. Help build a future where we thrive together.
THIS PROJECT CREATES A POSITIVE IMPACT BY:
CENTERING FIRST NATIONS KNOWLEDGE IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM
We’re supporting educators to bring First Nations histories and cultures into their classrooms in ways that are safe and engaging. It’s important that First Nations people are driving the way we include First Nations content in schools. First Nations Bedtime Stories films and resources are created by First Nations people.
STRENGTHENING CULTURES
We’re working with different First Nations communities to document stories that are sacred to their cultures.
First Nations Bedtime Stories means communities can record their stories in a new way, building on tens of thousands of years of strong, community-driven storytelling. Common Ground funds the distribution of the films in the communities the stories come from, to ensure everyone in the community has access to these films forever. The stories continue to be held and owned by their communities.
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY
We work with Elders, Knowledge Custodians, producers, filmmakers and many other people to make this project happen. The money raised for this project goes directly to paying these First Nations people and communities for their ongoing collaboration and contribution to this important project.
The money raised also helps ensure we can continue First Nations Bedtime Stories each year, and provide free films and resources to people all over Australia.
REFLECTIONS
"These stories help me have meaningful conversations with my students. It gives me as a Wadjela (white person) a way to elevate the voices of First Nations people in my classroom in a meaningful way." — Teacher
"First Nations Bedtimes Stories is such an empowering and uplifting project that is First Nations-led throughout every stage. We were so lucky to have two coolinga (children) as our hosts for the Noongar season, and it was a joy to watch them engage with Elders over the week and watch their growth in not only working with film, but learning more about their culture." — Filmmaker
“The Bedtime Stories have totally inspired us to seek out more Indigenous storytelling and to really connect with Country at any opportunity. We feel a deeper connection now and I'm so grateful for the learnings that have come from these stories.” — Parent
FAQ’s
1. Why does Forever Stories exist?
Since 2019, Common Ground has worked with First Nations communities to film five non-secret Dreaming and cultural learning stories told by Elders and Knowledge Holders.
We do this to share and strengthen these stories for future generations, and to provide a way for all people to meaningfully connect with the oldest continuing cultures on Earth. These stories are a rich source of valuable knowledge and wisdom.
2. Why did the name change from First Nations Bedtime Stories to Forever Stories?
This change was sparked by many yarns with and feedback from communities, teachers and long-time supporters of the project. Part of this was feedback from teachers that the use of the word "bedtime" created a barrier in school settings.
We also wanted to shift away from "bedtime stories" to acknowledge the depth and importance of these stories as vessels for carrying knowledge and Law. They aren't just stories for entertainment – they are stories that have been passed on for thousands of generations, and that we can all learn from.
While the name has evolved, the heart of the project remains the same: Forever Stories puts production budgets directly into the hands of First Nations filmmakers to shoot on Country, with community, on their own terms.
3. Which communities have been part of Forever Stories so far?
Communities we’ve backed to film stories from include Noongar, Wiradjuri, Nyikina, Arrernte, Eastern Arrernte, Luritja, Warlpiri and Pitjantjatjara Nations. You can view the films and resources from these previous series at any time.
4. How do I participate during Forever Stories Week?
The stories are shared online to everyone who signs up. All you need to do is sign up with an email address. While the films will arrive in your inbox at the beginning of each day during Forever Stories week, we will also send you a preview link before the week to help you prepare in advance.
Everyone who signs up also gets access to free, educational resources. The resources will help you guide safe and informative learning with the young people in your life, whether you’re a parent or carer, an Early Childhood educator or a teacher.
5. How can I share these stories with people I know?
6. Who creates the education resources?
Common Ground works closely with First Nations educators to create education resources to use in schools, workplaces and at home. Learning activities are mapped to the Australian Curriculum or Early Years Learning Framework.
7. Where can I watch films from previous years?
You can access both the films and the educational resources from previous years on the Stories page. We have information for each series and an interactive map of the continent that holds all the stories since 2019.
8. Is it free?
Yes! The films and educational resources are free for everyone who signs up. We do invite you to please make a donation or fundraise if you can, so we can continue this important initiative next year.
9. Why do you ask for donations?
Forever Stories is brought to you by Common Ground, a 100% First Nations not-for-profit. These stories and the accompanying resources are free for everyone to enjoy and learn from. We ask for donations so we can continue the project in the years ahead.
Click here to learn more about the impact this project has, and what the money we raise goes towards.
10. What are some ideas for fundraising at school?
We encourage you to get creative with your fundraising ideas at school! You could:
- Collect gold coin donations for a casual clothes or pyjama day
- Hold a special assembly for viewing the stories and ask for gold coin donations
- Have a bake sale
- Have a movie night/cinema screening in your school hall and ask for gold coin donations (alternatively you could do this on a smaller scale in the classroom during school hours)
11. Are donations tax-deductible?
All donations over $2 are tax-deductible (ABN 31 631 267 751).
12. My school doesn't have a debit/credit card. Can I send our donations by bank transfer?
If you can't send donations directly to our donate page, please send your donations to the following bank account.
Name: Common Ground First Nations
BSB: 065900
Account number: 10766125
Description: Forever Stories
13. Who is Common Ground?
Common Ground is a 100% First Nations led and operated not-for-profit changing systems through storytelling. We are led by community, and work with a collective of First Nations people to amplify knowledge, cultures and stories – building on over 80,000 years of strong, community-driven storytelling.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEXT SERIES
We're currently fundraising for the production of next year's films. If you’ve ever found joy, connection or learning through these stories, we invite you to fundraise or donate.
Films and resources through this project will always remain free for everyone to access, so your contribution is instrumental in allowing us to continue sharing this important initiative for future generations.
