A call has been sent out for anyone with a story that would make an interesting subject for the ABC's Message Stick Program.Throughout
the community language programs there are plenty of these, and the I ABC has already featured a few, including the Wiradjuri program in
NSW-This is a great opportunity to let Australia know about your local projects, and the work that still needs to be done. If you would like to
talk to Message Stick, please contact

Jade Christian
Researcher/Associate Producer
lndigenous Programs Unit
ABC Television
Ph: 02 8333 42 l0 Fax: 02 8333 40 19
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.abc.net.au/message

INDIGENOUS broadcasters and television and film producers have welcomed the announcement by Senator Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, lnformation Technologies and the Arts 1 that lndigenous television will receive Federal Government funding of $48.5 million over the next 4 years-The announcement follows a government review into the viability of establishing a national lndigenous television services which reported to parliament on 11 August 2005.

"It is great news for all Australians, building upon the remarkable, award-winning output of lndigenous television and film producers," said Rachel Perkins, speaking on behalf of the National lndigenous I Television Committee.

"It will now be possible to produce innovative programming for children and young people nationally, to plan the introduction of a national news and current affairs service and to extend the reach of programming in languages to lndigenous people across Australia."

"We see a national lndigenous TV service aimed primarily at lndigenous people in metropolitan, regional and remote Australia, and secondarily at non-Indigenous Australians," she 1 raid. ."But as has been the case in New Zealand, it may end having more non-Indigenous viewers who will tune in to learn about the many lndigenous cultures that contribute to the richness of contemporary Australia."

Chairman of lmparja Television and the CAAMA Group, Owen Cole,said he is delighted that the Minister has supported a model which builds on the lndigenous Community Television service (ICTV) service which narrow casts on the lmparja second channe1.A National lndigenous Television service will complement that ICTV service, he said. Australia is beginning to catch up with other countries in establishing a national lndigenous television presence.

In Canada the Aboriginal Peoples 'Television Network was established in 1999 and is mandated by the Canadian Government to broadcast nationally on the basic tier of cable te1evision.A Maori television network was established in New Zealand earlier this year and Indigenous television services have existed in Wales since 1982, Ireland since 1995 and Spain since 1983.

A good place to visit online is the updated website for the Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori I The Maori Language Commission.This has been revamped with clever interactive sessions and information targeted to everyone from fluent speakers to early learners.There will be more to come on the New Zealand website over the next few months at www.koreromaori.co.nz

Kim Aldu and Annette Churiama from Mirima Dawang Woorlab-Gerring Language Centre in Kununurra in Western Australia gave an outline of programs in their region

From communities as diverse as wadeye in the Northern Territory  to Gippsland inVictoria,the delegates took part in the two day conference with the members of the FATSIL Governing Committee. Kaurna Elder,Auntie Leonie Brodie gave the welcome to country at the opening of the Roundtable.

Mrs. Evelyn Moyair Serico

Many of our people whose last speaker of their language has passed on, will have faced this reality, as I have done over the last few weeks, since my mother left us on the 5th October, 2005.

Christine Ahwon Nangala

The project is a response to both local and global concerns about language loss, with Elders throughout the Victoria River District expressing a desire for their languages to be documented before the Elders pass away. The Volkswagen Foundation addresses global concerns about the loss of many of the world's languages through the'DoBeS' program,which sponsors the documentation of endangered languages.

Denise Karpany
Acting Chairperson
301 Churchill rd
Prospect SA 5082
Ph:088 2693 601
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

THE Koori Centre of the University of Sydney is introducing a new degree; the Master of Indigenous Languages Education in 2006.The course is designed to meet the need for qualified Indigenous instructors to participate in the delivery of language teaching programs in a range of educational settings.

It will be delivered in mixed-mode (block-release) over three blocks of one week each per semester, and take one year to complete full-time.