Dhurga is the language of the Yuin people and students from the school on the state’s south coast have drawn on it to showcase their culture in two bilingual books.
Ngayawanj bagan-nggul, ngayawanj barra barra-nggul (We belong to the land, we belong to the sea), is an anthology of poems, stories and artworks created during workshops with Gunai author Kirli Saunders and Dharawal artist Jaz Corr, while Bagan, barra barra, mirriwarr (The Boys Who Found Their Way), is a story co-authored by students Tyran Uddin and Kayden Wellington, also produced during the workshops.
The journey to creating the books began long ago, and really started with local elders and community who established Dhurga language lessons at the school 20 years ago.
The school’s Dhurga language teacher Jonathan Hill said the books not only honour the people who established the program, but will be invaluable to continue teaching the local language.
“Local primary schools in our region are constantly looking for ways to integrate Dhurga language into mainstream curriculum and these books offer the perfect avenue to achieve such a goal,” he said.
“It is immensely exciting to contemplate the plethora of ways in which these books will accelerate the language revitalisation process.”
For students like Jonah Ardler-Pascoe, who wrote the poem ‘Diving’ for the anthology, the workshops and resulting book were an opportunity to share culture.
“My ancestors used to dive and collect seafood in order to eat and survive, and my poem tries to celebrate this part of my history,” he said.
Iesha Walker, who wrote the poem ‘The Beach’, said it feels “unreal” to be published.
“It’s just something I would have never thought I would do but I am so happy and grateful that I have been able to be a part of this book,” she said.
“I love that I have been able to express myself using language and sharing that makes me feel so proud of myself and my culture.”
‘Bagan, barra barra, mirriwarr (The Boys Who Found Their Way)’ follows two boys who meet with animals who teach them about being on country, connecting to the land and to each other.
“This book is about caring for the environment and learning from the environment, it is also about healing” Wellington said.
“The most fun part was working with my good mate Ty.”
Both books will be launched for Indigenous Literacy Day on Wednesday, alongside ‘Yaltji Ngayuku Papa? (Where’s My Dog?)’, which was written in Pitjantjatjara and English by students at Tjuntjuntjara Remote Community School in Western Australia.
Singer Jessica Mauboy, who is an Indigenous Literacy Foundation ambassador, will be launching the books at the Sydney Opera House.
Indigenous Literacy Day's live event is at the Sydney Opera House. Hosted by ILF ambassadors Jessica Mauboy, Bianca Hunt, Gregg Dreise, Josh Pyke, Justine Clarke and Andy Griffiths, it’s a celebration of music, dance, art, language and storytelling.
“Stories, songs, and culture are so much a part of who I am and how I grew up, and by sharing these with others, we help keep the culture and community alive,” she said.
“I am proud to be a part of ensuring that our stories, languages, and traditions continue to be passed down to future generations, and that we honour our elders’ journeys.”
The nation’s earliest languages need to be taught from primary school age and it was this in mind that the Federal Government launched its $14 million First Nations Languages Education Program in December last year, aiming to teach and strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
Assistant Minister for Education, Senator Anthony Chisholm, said preserving the languages of the world’s oldest continuous civilisation is central to promoting a strong and vibrant First Nations culture within Australia and to the rest of the world.
“The program will help strengthen and preserve languages, cultures, identities and the wellbeing of First Nations people and support school attendance, engagement and academic achievement for students,” Chisholm said in December.
“It will also help support the placement of up to 60 First Nations language educators in primary schools that are involved in local community partnerships from 2024.”
The program has been developed in partnership with First Languages Australia (FLA), the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
The initiative recognises that each community will have different aspirations and needs for teaching and sustaining First Nations languages, and aims to progress Target 16 of Closing the Gap, to support a sustained increase in the number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken.
Minister for Education Jason Clare said in December that the program will help more young Australians develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the first languages and cultures of the nation.
(with AAP)
