Marni Naa Bundi PDF Print E-mail

We are continuing to lobby government for better support of our Indigenous languages. A recent document about our policy focus outlined a number of key ideas.

Firstly, that it must be acknowledged and recognised that language and culture go hand in hand. They are intertwined and should not be considered separately. Secondly, that language is the cornerstone of a person’s identity. It describes who you are and where you come from.

Fire in water Aangarrk
Fire in water Aangarrk
This year is officially recognised by the United Nations as the International Year of Languages. It is also important to note and highlight the fact that Australia has topped a list of ‘hot spots’ for the extinction of Indigenous languages. Linguists put the list together from the Enduring Voices project, which has been backed by National Geographic magazine. The project has identified that Australia harbours some of the most endangered languages in the world, with languages from the northern areas, including parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, as the most threatened.

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