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.
FATSIL continues to lobby policy makers at a regional,state and national level. We have identified a number of priority actions that we consider vital to ongoing Indigenous language development.
• To acknowledge and recognise in the Australian Constitution that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are the first languages of this land and to list them as official languages alongside English.
• To create a legislative framework for our languages.This has been done in other countries such as the United Kingdom with the Welsh Language, New Zealand for Maori, and the native American Indian languages of the United States.
Grace James, Jimmy Amjak James, Thancoupie Gloria Fletcher, Ida Paul(Athailpine)
Thaynakwith is spoken by the people north of Mission River on the west coast of Cape York. Thaynakwith songs are sung with a lilting melody as are the songs of much of the pacific. They speak of experiences and feelings that are very much those of the Thaynakwith people themselves. The composer or author of each song is remembered and respected as an artist, and the family keeps these songs as cultural contributions made by their ancestors. They are often sung again at the funerals of family members, or of members of the same tribe.
In January 2008 I attended an Expert Group meeting on Endangered Languages at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The
UN divides the globe into 7 regions. I was the representative for the Pacific region of which Australia is a part. Also attending was an Aboriginal woman from Darwin called Sonya Smallacombe who is employed in the UN Indigenous Issues forum. The other 6 Indigenous representatives at the Expert Group Meeting were from North America, Latin America, Malaysia, Botswana in Africa and the Inuit people from Russia and Sweden.
Jandamarra was performed by the Black Swan Theatre Company as part of the 2008 Perth International Arts Festival.
Jandamarra is a legendary figure. He was once known as “the black Ned Kelly.” As with Kelly, there are many versions and interpretations of his story; books that vary wildly in their accounts, numerous oral histories and stories, songs and dances.
The play script draws on many of these sources. Above all, I have tried to be true to the spirit of Jandamarra and his story as they are remembered by his people,the Bunuba, from the Kimberleys in Western Australia. Over twelve years of writing, rewriting and polishing
film scripts, and of creating and translating a version for the stage, I have at all times worked with Bunuba people. I take credit as the writer, but the copyright to my creation is owned by Bunuba Films, a company owned by the Bunuba people of Fitzroy Crossing. My rendering of the Jandamarra story belongs to them.
Adnyamathanha is the language and culture of the Flinders Ranges, and one of the essential resources for understanding that region. It is a close living relative of Adelaide’s Kaurna language. Adnyamathanha language has only around twenty fluent living speakers and will become extinct if it is not passed on. Adnyamathanha is an important part of Australia’s heritage that should be sustained, living and treasured.
Adnyamathanha Ngawarla Yarramalka is a grassroots, community-driven language course. The students are elders, parents, youth and children. Most are Adnyamathanha. Students of all backgrounds are welcome.
This story has been written with the support of the Young Indigenous Writers Initiative, a mentoring program run by FATSIL 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. Ada Hanson from Hedland, Western Australia, is our Young Indigenous Writers Initiative participant and Voice of the Land contributor for this issue. Special thanks to Sue Hanson of Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre for her generous assistance.
