Faith Baisden

One of the resolutions to come out of the review process, was the plan to have State run language meetings held on a two yearly basis, where funds and coordinating programs ans allow . The benefits of more frequent meeting for people involved in language work go further than the obvious points relating to formal information sharing.

FATSIL

The Governing Committee of FATSIL has addressed a number of proposals which aim to strengthen the position of the organisation as peak body for indigenous languages in Australia.

1998 will be remembered by me as a year of consolidation for FATSIL. As an all Aboriginal organisation, it successfully sought to be heard, and recognised as a peak body representing the best interests of our people and Aboriginal languages in Australia.

Irene Ryder

Gunggari is the language spoken in an area of Western Queensland taking in the Maranoa, Warrego. Condamine and Balonne regions.

In the Mitchell area, 80 kms west of Roma, children in the local schools are well used to lessons on Gunggari language and culture. However these are set to become even more fun, with the development of a range of board games that will give the young students plenty of opportunity to use their language, while at the same time testing their luck with the dice. Take a chance when the wandhi (dingo) comes into the camp and advance to the next turn, or lose two goes by stumbling on a bumbara (snake).

Doug Abbott

As it was, his earliest experience of formal learning was in the most difficult circumstances you could imagine, and for many years left him feeling robbed of confidence and a true sense of identity.

The early setbacks slowed him down, but haven't stopped Doug from going on to become one of a team of dedicated language and culture teachers in the Northern Territory.

Language Access Initiatives Program

For all those who made submissions for funds under the new Language Access Initiatives Program, it is likely to be several months before any final decision on the distribution of funds is made.

All submissions should have been with ATSIC Regional Offices by 12 February 1999. At the moment, ATSIC Regional Officers are assessing submissions and Regional Councils will also be making comment on them. After this process has been completed, all the submissions and regional comments will be sent to ATSIC in Canberra, and a national committee will make the final decision on the allocation of funds.

Office bearers for FATSIL were elected at the A.G.M. in Darwin.

The results were

Chairperson: Lester Coyne. (Western Australia.)

Vice Chairperson: Denise Karpany. (South Australia.)

Treasurer: Jill Gallagher. (Victoria.)

Honorary Secretary: Eve Fesl. ( Queensland.)

Ysola Best appointed as public officer.

Archie Roach visits our display stall at the Pacific Rim Youth Conference.

The Cape York and Gulf Indigenous Languages program was formed in 1994, and at that time the first priority was to set up an administration, and to establish a network which would canvas the language needs of this region. This is known as Region 4, taking in Wujal Wujal in the South, north to Cape York and West to Doomadgee.

There are an estimated 57 Indigenous languages of this region, and approximately 13,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living here.

The membership of the Cape York and Gulf Indigenous Languages Program is made up of interested community members, and language workers within our region.

We have been sponsored by the Guugu Yimithirr Warra Aboriginal Corporation at Hope Vale for the past 4 years, and an administration centre has been newly established in Cooktown. Having a separate administration centre from the sponsoring body, enables us to fulfil our obligations better and give more support to community projects.

Mark Thomsan and his teacher

And here's the happy follow up, with Mark and his teacher, a proud as punch Aretha Briggs, displaying the engraved gold medallion given to Mark as one of the State winners.

Mark studied Yorta Yorta and Northern Territory Gupungpungya at Worawa Aboriginal College.

This is an urgent request to all of you who love language, value it as a national treasure, and would like to see the preservation of our indigenous languages. The Northern Territory Education Department is proposing to phase out bilingual education in Northern Territory schools, contrary to the wishes of many Aboriginal communities which have bilingual programmes. (For the NT Department of Education Statement, and copies of the Minister's press release, see http://www.ntde.nt.gov.au/announce )

Lester Coyne
Chairperson
Perth, Western Australia
Mobile 0412994624
PO Box 1249
Perth WA 6105