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VOTL36

Voice of the Land - Volume 36

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Voice of the Land - Volume 36

Federation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages
VOICE OF THE LAND

VOLUME 36
MARCH, 2008
ISSN 1834-4216

Marni Naa Budni

Australia Map by Cairns based artist Zane Saunders

We are looking forward to a busy and exciting year here at the Federation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages (FATSIL). In 2008 we will be focused on consulting with community and language centres to develop a positive and inclusive process for national advocacy and policy development. We are engaging with key people within the new government and, with the assistance of Indigenous leaders like Warren Mundine, are identifying the best way to effect real change in the way Indigenous language education and development is viewed in this country.

Murra Yerribi Yerribi Dyunial Buranda

Aunty Louisa Brown

The 2008 FATSIL National Indigenous Languages Forum and Annual General Meeting was held at the Canberra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre from Thursday the 21st to Friday the 22nd of February. ‘Murra Yerribi Yerribi Dyunial Buranda' (Ngambri for ‘Our Journey, Our Future') was the theme of the Forum. Ngambri Elder Louisa Brown welcomed delegates to country.

FATSILC AGM 2008

FATSIL AGM 2008

Denis Karpany, FATSILC chairperson, identified some key areas of work for 2008:

Right to be Counted

Tracy Monaghan

Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre and Melbourne photographer Tobias Titz have collaborated with Indigenous community members from Port Hedland, Yandeyarra, Carnavon and Warralong in Western Australia, to create a body of photographs that articulate the communities thoughts, opinions and experiences regarding the 1967 referendum. 2008:

Bilinarra Elder Passes

The late Ivy Hector Nambijina-Nangari Ivy Hector Nambijina-Nangari was born in 1935 and was regarded as one of the last speakers of her language Bilinarra, a severely endangered Indigenous language of the Victoria River District in Northern Australia. Throughout her life, Ivy dedicated herself to keeping her language and culture strong in her tiny remote community of Nijburru (also known as Pigeon Hole - 450km south-west of Katherine). Ivy sadly passed away on November 13, 2007.

Jungguwurru Buwarraj

Diwurruwurru-jaru Aboriginal Corporation are releasing a book in Bilinarra called Jungguwurru Buwarraj which is the story of ‘Echina Dreaming’ as told by Ivy Hector Nambijina-Nangari. Contact Ngukurr Language Centre on (08) 8975 4362 for details.

Ngambunyjarri

Ngambunyjarri

Ngambunyjarri is a new book written in Thalanyji and English that documents the traditional uses for some of the plants found on Thalanyji country, which is around the Ashburton River and Onslow areas of Western Australia. The Thalanyji language is now spoken fluently by only 5 remaining Elders, who are descendants of Ngulyiguru (Jack Hayes) and Winnie Hicks. Their closest connections are with Bayungu, Gurrama, Binigura and Burduna people. Visit www.wangkamaya.org.au for more information.

Dyeerrm

Iramoo Student,Aliesha Newman

Students at Iramoo Primary School in Victoria have created a animation film called ‘Dyeerm’, which means bullfrog in Wathaurong, the language of the Indigenous people around the Geelong and Werribee areas. It is based on the well-known Aboriginal story ‘Tiddalik’, a drought and flood story about a giant, thirsty frog. The film has caught the attention of the Victorian College of Koorie Education, and will be used by schools throughout Australia as a cultural education tool. Gunditjmara woman Donna Sharrock coordinated the 21 Indigenous student crew members and local Wathaurong Elder David Tournier translated the script.

Paper Trail by Bruce Pascoe

My great grandmother adopted a new identity. My father’s family called one of the tent boxers cousin. Both families have inconsistent and doubtful histories. They seem to have gone to ground, merged with the general population of their neighbourhoods. Why did they think it was necessary?

It was quite common between 1840 and 1920 for young Victorian women to change their identities. To unravel all the changed surnames, muddy histories of marriages, births, deaths and so called adoptions is a confusing paper chase.

Ngeniyerriya

Sorry

An expression of empathy, can be happy or sad, ‘oh dear', ‘poor thing', ‘thank you' 'I feel sorry for you'. Anindilyakwa (provided by Elizabeth – Library – Groote Eylandt Linguistics)

Yalyba Wilybala warrithayimanha Yamajigi mayu ganggathanu- Lots of Whitefellas feeling sorry for Yamajis for taking their kids. Wajarri (provided by Colin Hamlett - Vaso Elesfsiniotis – Irra Wangga – Geraldton Language Program)

Yolngu Broadcast

Helen Guyula Yolngu Interpreter

Aboriginal Resource and Development Services (ARDS) is the community development arm of the Northern Regional Council of Congress, which is the Aboriginal and Islander Presbytery of the Uniting Church in Australia. ARDS provides education and communication services to the Yolngu people of northeast Arnhem Land.

Health education has become a major focus of the organisation. With mortality rates amongst the Yolngu people 4 times the national average, ARDS educators have focused on ways to address this problem.

Kaurna Man.... by Vincent Buckskin

Vincent Buckskin

Young Indigenous Writers Initiative

This story has been written with the support of the Young Indigenous Writers Initiative, a mentoring program run by FATSILC that helps young Indigenous writers to develop their writing skills and get their work published. The aim of the program is to foster and promote the new generation of Indigenous writers in Australia. Vincent Buckskin, a Kaurna man from Adelaide, is our Young Indigenous Writers Initiative participant and Voice of the Land contributor for this issue. Special thanks to Dr Rob Amery of Adelaide University for his assistance.

FATSILC acknowledges ‘The Towards a Just Society Fund’ for supporting this Initiative. If you are an Indigenous person between the age of 16 and 25, have a passion for writing and interest in language and culture, you are eligible to apply for the Young Indigenous Writers Initiative.

Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to register your interest.

Japu Japu

Japu Japu

featuring Francis Jupurrurla Kelly & Annanias Japanangka Woods

Japu Japu