The Palaszczuk Government has announced funding for 31 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language preservation and revival initiatives around Queensland.
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Jackie Trad said $100,000 worth of grants co-funded by DATSIP and the Department of Education would support activities across the state.
“Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to preserve, speak and engage in society through their language of choice is a critical part of providing equal access to opportunities, inclusion and supporting rich, cultural diversity in Queensland,” Ms Trad said.
“It’s also vital to preserving Queensland’s history.
“There were once more than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages in Queensland and today less than 20 are still used as a first language.”
Education Minister Grace Grace said it was pleasing to see so many different organisations getting involved in the initiative.
“Ensuring children learn Indigenous languages is an integral part of preservation – our younger generations are the pioneers of tomorrow who will be responsible for carrying traditional languages into the future,” Ms Grace said.
“It is wonderful to see so many Elders and Traditional Owner groups working with local community organisations, schools and kindergarten providers to share and transfer knowledge of their traditional languages to younger generations.
“Successful initiatives include the creation of new apps and dictionaries, recording oral language, and traditional language programs in schools.”
Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council has secured the $15,000 grant for their Indigenous Language Preservation Program, creating an app for the younger children of the community to teach and preserve the Kuku Yalanji language.
Burketown Primary Parents and Citizens Association and Ananda Marga River School Parents and Friends Association have been awarded $7,500 grants each for their language revival programs which aim to introduce traditional language in each of their schools.
A further 28 community-led programs across the state have received $2,500 grant funding to preserve and revitalise Indigenous languages in Queensland.
The following initiatives are being supported to deliver Indigenous language preservation and revitalisation:
Central Queensland Region | |
Gidarjil Development Corporation Limited | Woppaburra Language Reclamation |
TSP Theatre Inc | Watti Watti Desert Trek – Preserving the Wangkangurru Indigenous Language |
Yin Bira Kindergarten | Animal Antics in Ghungalu |
Far North Queensland | |
Buubu Gujin Aboriginal Corporation | “Ngaanthu-ngay Thagaal-ngun, Nhila-ngan, Gurra galmba Gaadaanu” (Women of the Past, Today, and Future”) |
Douglas Shire Community Services Association Ltd/T/A Mossman Support Services | Project in Indigenous Language – Kuku Yalanji First Readers iBooks |
Isabella State School P&C Committee | NAIDOC Indigenous Languages and Dance Performance |
Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation | “Eastern Kuku Yalanji Family History Stories” 2nd Edition with Eastern Yalanji Language translations |
Kowanyama State School | Exposing and Teaching Indigenous Languages of Kowanyama |
Kuranda District State College P&C Association | Djabugay Language Program |
Mossman State School P&C Association | Kuku Yalanji Indigenous Language Program Bilingual Signage Project |
Napranum Parents and Learning Group | Napranum Early Childhood Indigenous Language Initiative |
Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council | Indigenous Language Preservation |
North Queensland | |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Mackay Ltd | Indigenous Language Signs |
Ayr State School P&C Association | Gathering our Languages – Knowing our Country and Knowing our Place |
Bowen Goodstart Early Learning | Respectful Relationships through Indigenous Languages |
Burketown Primary P&C Association | Gangalidda Indigenous Language Revival Program |
C&K Mackay Children & Family Centre | Embedding & Reviving the Yuwibara & Barada Barna language |
Keriba Mina Zenadh Indigenous Corporation | ‘Atami Kaimel’-Indigenous Language |
South East Queensland (North) | |
Ananda Marga River School P&F Association | People of The Lawyer Vine: Bringing Language Back To Jinibara Country |
Australian Heritage Specialists for Stanley River Environment Education Centre and Jinibara Peoples Aboriginal Corporation | Indigenous Languages – Jinibara Fauna Signs |
Bribie Island Community Kindergarten | Shirley Creek Reserve on Joondoburri land within the Gubbi Gubbi Nation- Rejuvenating Language Project |
Caboolture State School P&C Association | Indigenous Languages: Spreading Kabi Kabi Through the Community |
Goodstart Early Learning Kedron | Indigenous Activities using the Yagara/Turrubal language |
Minjerribah-Moorgumpin Elders in Council Aboriginal Corporation | Reconstructing and Sharing the Indigenous Languages of the Islands of Minjerribah and Moorgumpin |
South East Queensland (South) | |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Services Brisbane | Capturing our Indigenous Languages through Children’s Co-created Story Books |
Berrinba East State School’s P&C Association | Berrinba’s Yugambeh Language Heritage Trail and Yarning Circle |
C&K Flagstone Community Kindergarten | Numala Yugambeh (Embrace Yugambeh) Indigenous Language Activation Program |
South West Queensland | |
Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation | Gunggari Dictionary and Language Resources |
The Empire Theatre Projects | South West Queensland Indigenous Cultural Languages |
The Trustee for the Hymba Yumba Community | Yuggera – Indigenous Language Handbook |
Torres Strait | |
NPA P&C Association | NPA Indigenous Languages Poster |
