Jakita Butterworth, a young Wakka Wakka, Widi, Bidjara, Butchula, and Kanaka artist inspired by her people, is the creative force behind the new characters bringing STEM to Indigenous children across Australia and the world.
The Deadly Coders Online platform will introduce two Indigenous characters to enhance the learning experience for students, by fostering a deeper connection with the pedological content. The characters serve as relatable figures that resonate with students’ cultural backgrounds, helping to make the coding lessons more engaging and meaningful.
By providing a face to the AI learning assistant, the characters personalise the educational journey offering guidance and support in a culturally relevant and inclusive context.
Growing up in Queensland, Jakita’s journey took her from the north side of Brisbane to Nambour, Mt Isa, Logan, Woodridge, and now Inala. Her early teen years were spent roaming the streets of Brisbane and Logan while staying deeply connected to her community. It was not unusual for Jakita to move from place to place and face adversity during this time.
She says, “Growing up was deadly but also challenging… there were and still are barriers, but with adversity often comes opportunity, and the opportunity to use art to show who we are as Indigenous people is my opportunity.”
Despite these challenges, she enrolled in high school and graduated from Southside Education (now Carinity Education Southside) in Sunnybank in 2013.
Jakita’s personal experiences and culture are at the heart of her work. The characters draw inspiration from her relationship with her younger brother, leading to the creation of Little C and Big J.
Little C, embodying the cheeky and curious traits of Jakita’s brother, is fascinated by technology and always eager to learn. The character Big J represents Jakita herself, highlighting her nurturing role as a big sister who is creative, problem-solving, and supportive.
“Family is so important to us and part of everything we do, and I wanted the characters to reflect how we interact and connect as mob because that is who we are.”
Jakita is passionate about ensuring First Nations children see themselves represented when learning new skills or engaging with content online.
She believes seeing someone like us on screen helps children feel included and confident in engaging with educational content.
The creation of Big J has been particularly special for Jakita, as it provides characters she can connect with and see herself and her family in.
Deadly Coders engaged Jakita to help bring the new coding platform to life through the development of Little C and Big J, as well as the development of several new Indigenous graphics that provide a graphical extension to existing brand elements for Deadly Coders, and there is no doubt she has achieved this.
It is through Jakita’s contribution that Deadly Coders demonstrates its commitment to embodying an Indigenous, community-controlled approach to learning. Jakita values the opportunity to educate others about culture through art and looks forward to the impact her characters have on young participants, including her own family members involved in the program.
“Stepping out of my comfort zone has opened my mind to new possibilities in graphic design, and I can’t wait until young mob, especially my family, see them on screen.”
With a life marked by resilience, creativity, and a deep connection to culture, Jakita continues to inspire, embodying the spirit of her ancestors and paving the way for future generations.
For more information about our programs and how to get involved, contact us now!
Deadly Coders – Empowering First Nations Youth in STEM.
