Nambur Yaalam Wiyeliko

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.

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.

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.

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. Continue reading →

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. Continue reading →

In addition to the consultations for the recently published Draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages

ACARA has called for discussion and feedback on the cross-curriculum priorities in the Australian Curriculum. ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures’ is one of three cross-curriculum priorities. Indigenous languages are the first point under the heading ‘Culture’ and are specifically mentioned as relevant to the English curriculum. Continue reading →

Members of the Eastern States Aboriginal Languages Group were pleased to be involved in the Puliima National Indigenous Languages Forum again this year. Continue reading →

The draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages is now available for national consultation. Continue reading →