Nambur Yaalam Wiyeliko

98.9 interview: Wiradjuri language program

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:26:32 +0000

Karen Dorante interviews Geoff Anderson from the Wiradjuri Council of Elders and Wiradjuri tutor Ron Wardop about the work they’ve been doing with languages in and around Parkes, New South Wales.

Listen to this great podcast

National Cultural Policy encompassing languages

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:00:36 +0000

The Eastern States Aboriginal Languages Group called for a number of measures to promote the traditional languages of Australia in its response to the National Cultural Policy Discussion Paper released by the Honorable Simon Crean, Minister for the Arts. Among the recommendations proposed by ESALG, was that priority be given to arts projects which include either directly, or as a consequence of their development, the production of resource materials for the teaching of Aboriginal languages through community based projects.

ESALG noted the inclusion of cultural heritage as one of the three key areas to which the national policy will relate, and that Indigenous languages are specifically mentioned at various points throughout the discussion paper.

Learning in both worlds

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:57:32 +0000

Inside Story have published a great article by Lisa Waller about bilingual education programs in schools. The story focuses on the Top End but has relevance for Indigenous language programs nationally.

Despite the international evidence, the Northern Territory has discouraged bilingual programs in its schools, writes Lisa Waller. But there are early signs of another shift in attitude, in both Darwin and Canberra.

Read the full article on Inside Story.

Address to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:34:23 +0000

ESALG members were asked to speak on a wide range of topics relating to community language programs and engagement with government, when they addressed the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Inquiry into language learning in Indigenous communities. Bridget Priman and Faith Baisden represented ESALG at the hearing in Parliament House Brisbane on the 6^th October. They are pictured talking about resources with Chair of the committee Mr. Shayne Neumann and Deputy Chair Dr. Sharman Stone. The report from the inquiry is expected to be tabled in Parliament in early 2012.

Reception at Admiralty House

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:41:36 +0000

Some members of the Eastern States Aboriginal Languages Group were recently invited to attend a reception hosted by the Governor General at Admiralty House Sydney. The event was to mark the NSW launch of Margaret Somerville’s book “They Crossed a Continent” and to acknowledge the work of the Puuya Foundation. ESALG members Geoff Anderson and Kevin Lowe took time to meet Tanya Denning from the National Indigenous Television and Emma Sydenham from SNAICC, the Secretariat National Aboriginal Islander Child Care, both of whom share strong interest in the language focus of the ESALG team.

Gawaymbanhadhu Wiradjuri ngurambanggu Kevin!

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 03:07:21 +0000

NSW delegate Geoff Anderson took advantage of a surprise meeting with The Minister for Foreign Affairs Kevin Rudd at Parkes airport recently. The minister was on his was to Condobolin to officially open The Wiradjuri Study Centre when he met with Geoff, who was flying out to Sydney. Our man in Parkes welcomed the Minister with a greeting in Wiradjuri, and assured him he would be in town for his next visit. (Welcome to Wiradjuri country it says.)

Geoff Anderson welcomes Kevin Rudd at Parks Airport.

An edited version of the Foreign Affairs Minister’s remarks at the opening of the Wiradjuri Study Centre at Condobolin on Tuesday 27th November is available on the Sydney Morning Herald website.

Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:01:54 +0000

Eastern States Aboriginal Languages Group contributed a submission to the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians. The panel was formed to draw comment from Australians generally regarding changing the constitution to recognise Indigenous Australians.

ESALG would like to see the constitution changed to properly recognise the place of Indigenous languages, and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to maintain and use their language.

Great News from The New South Wales State Library

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:13:56 +0000

The State Library of New South Wales, a key partner in the ESALG’s National
Indigenous Languages Collections Strategy, has scored international
recognition for undertaking a project to unearth language records from
within its earliest collection materials.

In line with the recommendations from the ESALG’s National Indigenous
Languages Collections Forum, the State Library of New South Wales has
entered into a ground-breaking project partnership with Rio Tinto which will
hopefully pave the way for the development of new protocols for research and
community engagement with the materials held in the major collecting
institutions in Australia.

The project will be the leading topic when Eastern States Aboriginal
Languages Group and partners to the Indigenous Languages Collections
Strategy will meet in Sydney on the 26th August.

Australians hunt for lost aboriginal languages
BBC News – ‎Aug 12, 2011‎
The New South Wales State Library says fragments of many lost languages exist in papers left by early settlers. Before British colonialisation began there in 1788, around 250 aboriginal languages were spoken in Australia by an estimated one million …

Australia to revive indigenous languages
News24 – ‎Aug 12, 2011‎
This special episode features some of the most dangerous adventures and incredible crocodile… Was R67.95 Now R64.55 Sydney – The New South Wales State Library in Australia launched a “search and rescue” mission on Friday to revive lost indigenous …

Australia to revive lost indigenous languages
AFP – ‎Aug 11, 2011‎
SYDNEY — The New South Wales State Library in Australia has launched a “search and rescue” mission to revive lost indigenous languages, using the letters and diaries of early British settlers. When the British first arrived on the shores of what became …

Lost indigenous languages to be revived
NEWS.com.au – ‎Aug 11, 2011‎
THE NSW State Library is hoping to revive a number of lost indigenous languages using the letters and diaries of British naval officers, surveyors and missionaries. “A nations oral and written language is the backbone to its culture,” NSW Arts Minister …

Inquiry into Language Learning in Indigenous Communities

admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 01:35:53 +0000

The role of Indigenous languages in Closing the Gap and improving outcomes for Indigenous communities is the subject of a new inquiry by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.

The inquiry will examine the benefits of giving recognition to Indigenous languages, and how Indigenous languages can be used in education to improve competency in English. In addition, the inquiry will examine current maintenance and revitalisation programs for Indigenous languages.

Never before has there been an inquiry of this type in relation to Indigenous languages. The Committee invites interested persons and organisations to make submissions addressing the terms of reference by Friday, 19 August 2011. Details on how to make a submission are on House of Representatives Standing Committee’s website.

“We are keen to see this inquiry result in positive actions for Indigenous language programs which are supported at the highest levels of government. It is essential that the verbal support for Indigenous language education programs in schools and community is followed with funding to train teachers and provide students with quality resources required for high level educational outcomes.” Says ESALG Member Kevin Lowe.

ESALG has been active in supporting the establishment of the National Policy for Indigenous Languages and encourages all who share these interests and support the work being done by the group to contribute a submission to the inquiry.

If you have not already done so you may wish to read the Media Release sent out by the Standing Committee to announce the Inquiry. It is great to see a significant discussion of Indigenous languages happening within the parliamentary system at last.

National Indigenous Languages Collections Meeting.

admin — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 04:30:28 +0000

On Friday the 26th August librarians and archivists from around the country will meet at the State Library of New South Wales in Sydney for the second National Indigenous Languages Collections Meeting.

This meeting was due to be held on the 24th June but was delayed due to the flight issues with the ash cloud at the time. ESALG are very grateful to the State Library of New South Wales for their offer to host the full day meeting. The aim of the gathering is to address key points contained in the National Indigenous Languages Policy relating to the preservation of Language materials.

The August meeting will review the contents of the Indigenous Language Collections: Issues and Actions Paper and develop actions to support a national management strategy.

ESALG members are keen to see what progress has been made regarding the actions set at last years meeting.