Over 30 custodians of Aboriginal languages have issued a significant statement advocating for the preservation and revitalization of Indigenous languages in the Northern Territory. The document calls for increased funding for language services, including cultural centers, and initiatives aimed at enhancing understanding of these languages within community health clinics.
The Australian representative for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages has urged government entities to support community-led initiatives focused on language protection. This week, a group of Northern Territory language custodians released the “Top End Strong Languages Statement,” outlining a comprehensive plan to prioritize efforts for the revival and maintenance of Indigenous languages throughout the region.
This four-page document addresses various issues, including the implementation of bilingual education and the importance of sharing linguistic knowledge within communities. It emphasizes the necessity for additional funding directed towards language services, the establishment of language and culture centers, and the development of systems for repatriating archived linguistic materials.
The statement also advocates for the enhancement of bilingual education, encouraging Western educational systems to collaborate with local communities to foster language programs and develop relevant curricula. The initiative has been spearheaded by Rarrtjiwuy Herdman, a speaker of Dhaŋu, a critically endangered language from Arnhem Land.
Herdman expressed the importance of facilitating opportunities for young adults to engage with their communities in their native language, stating, “I want to support and empower the next generation to provide services to Yolŋu in our language.”
Since her involvement with the Top End Language Group, Herdman has initiated a pilot program through the Djalkiri Foundation aimed at teaching young adults the Dhaŋu language. “We are focusing on community-accredited first-language literacy, using this as a foundation to explore diverse learning methods,” she explained, highlighting the significance of both literacy and oracy in the community.
Approximately 100 individuals gathered at Charles Darwin University to witness the delivery of the Top End Strong Languages Statement by Herdman and fellow Aboriginal language representatives. Ian Gumbula, a delegate from Galiwin’ku, emphasized the statement’s importance in representing the sentiments of Northern Territory communities, stating, “Language is life; it gives us freedom.”
Paul van Holsteyn, acting deputy chief executive for early years and school services at the NT Education Department, affirmed the department’s commitment to supporting the teaching of Aboriginal languages. “We aid schools in developing and incorporating local curricula that align with the Australian Curriculum,” he noted, adding that over 50 schools across the Northern Territory teach Aboriginal languages and that funding can be directed towards bilingual and two-way learning approaches based on community needs.
In 2022, the United Nations introduced the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL) Global Action Plan in response to the alarming rates at which many Indigenous languages worldwide are disappearing. A research paper from the Australian National University indicated that Australia has one of the highest rates of language loss globally.
Samuel Daniels, the newly appointed executive officer for IDIL Australia, praised the Top End Language Group’s community-driven language revitalization efforts. “It would be encouraging to see similar actions from the government as well,” he commented, stressing the dire situation of language loss in Australia, where unique knowledge systems and cultural connections that span thousands of years are at risk of being lost forever.
