Grants preserving and reviving Queensland Indigenous languages

Published Friday, 23 August, 2019 at 11:39 AM

Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Honourable Jackie Trad

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

For more information visit www.datsip.qld.gov.au/ilg

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Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office – Daniel Lato 0438 891 158