'Always Was, Always Will Be' by Boon Wurrung and Wamba Wamba Elder Aunty Fay Muir OAM and Sue Lawson, has won the Eve Pownall Award at the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards.
The book, published by Indigenous publishing house Magabala Books, looks at the history and impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protest movements of the last 200 years.
From January 26 as the Day of Mourning in 1938 to the Pilbara strike in 1948 and the 1967 Referendum, 'Always Was, Always Will Be' shines a light on the First Nations fight for justice.
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Ms Lawson posted on social media to celebrate the win and called it an incredible honour.
"We are overwhelmed and delighted," she wrote.
"Always Was Always Will Be celebrates courage and resilience and is a truth telling book. We are so proud of it."
Ms Lawson went on to thank her frequent collaborator Aunty Fay Muir, a respected Boon Wurrung and Wamba Wamba Elder.
The pair have written five books together, including their first 'Nganga, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Words and Phrases' which was the inspiration for the Our Place series - a series of three children's picture books, also published by Magabala Books.
On the release of 'Always Was, Always Will Be' in June 2024, Aunty Fay called it an educational book for students and teachers and should facilitate conversations.
"The stories in this book need to be told and are crucial to our First Nations history," she said at the time.
"The book’s narratives need to be read, discussed and then students can go on a learning journey to further their understanding and knowledge about the history in this country.”
