Learning the Indigenous Languages of NE Arnhem Land, The Northern Territory
We sometimes get the question from people interested in working with people from North East Arnhem Land;
‘Do you know of any good external language courses that are available?’
There are a couple of options to begin learning Yolŋu Matha, the language of north east Arnhem Land.
The Blame Game.
It is the easiest thing to lay blame. It is also very easy to assume that you are being blamed by someone else. Recently, I have become more aware of the way groups all working to help Indigenous people fight against each other, laying blame or putting up walls. The clash of cultures that occurs within and among organisations working with Indigenous can result in what I call the ‘blame game’. A dynamic that brings added stress and disfunction to the whole system. The blame game is notable both between dominant culture workers and Indigneous people, as well as between different Indigneous groups.
Another Indigenous voice from Arnhem Land
Here is another statement from a Yolngu person from North East Arnhem Land. He speaks against the intervention,l but he is also referring to many other recent sudden changes in NT government policy such as the ceasing of funding to Home Land centres (or out-stations) and the closing of Home Land schools. Again the underlining concern is about the approach that came with the intervention that has lead to such broad brush decisions being made without prior consultation. If you are working with Indigenous people do not let ideologies control your decision making, find a way to understand the local people’s real experience, knowledge, and situation. Yingiya is a excellent teacher and I think there is plenty to be learnt from his words about the experience and perspectives of the Yolngu people.
An Indigenous voice on current Government policy
This is the second of a series of videos produced by a knowledgeable Aboriginal Lady from North East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. I post this here so people can see that Indigenous people from the remote areas really are angry about disempowering approaches.
An Indigenous voice – How is Yolngu law separate from the Governments Law
Here is a YouTube video that is worth watching because it contains the genuine voice of an Indigenous a significant person from one the remote communities most effected by recent Government polices. She speaks of why she sees her people’s Law and the Mainstream Law of Australia of the ‘Balanda’ (the Europeans/non-indigenous) as separate from each other.
An example of disempowerment- Why dont you talk to us first?
The Elder speaking was quite irate about decisions that had been made by Goverment and organisations that had not been discussed with local leaders. “Why don’t you Balanda explain to us what are your plans?… You don’t talk to us… You just change things.” …
How do Indigenous Languages help Learning outcomes?
To some we may be beginning to sound like a broken record, always talking about the importance of using Indigneous languages. But the reason I continue to talk about this is because many Australia personnel and agencies have so much trouble really absorbing the importance of starting with local languages. So lets say it as simply as possible. If a hearer does not understand well the language being used then ZERO meaning or information may be being conveyed. How can this be? Let’s break it down…
Four hours in English – An Indigenous bilingual teacher’s experience.
A growing group called ‘Friends of Bilingual Learning’ (FOBL) sprang up a few months ago and its members are actively involved in the debate over Marion Scrymgour’s decision to relegate the use of local Indigenous languages to only 1hour a…
Four hours in English – The NT Government’s Indigenous ed. plan built on misinformation.
The NT Minister for education argues that Indigenous languages have no place in teaching literacy and numeracy in remote indigenous schools and has announced that the first 4 hour of every school day must be in English. Support for the Government’s position seems to be based on a few misunderstanding about way learning actually operates on remote indigenous communities. Let’s briefly explore the reality in the bilingual community schools this will effect.
Are we closing the gap? – Discussion paper
Has the Governement’s approach over the last 2 years had any positive effect on Aborignal and Torrse Strait Islander communities? The present Labour Federal Government along with the Northern Territory Government have a policy approach called “Closing the Gap.” But is their approach working? Richard Trudgen the author of “Why Warriors Lie down and Die” has written a discussion paper on this topic called “Are We heading in the right direction? ‘Closing the Gap’ or making it bigger?”
Loss of Indigenous Languages – symptom or underlying cause?
Language is mastery, who ever controls language controls information and those who lack information are marginalised. When we talk of equal rights for indigenous peoples, the right to hear and be heard using their native languages should be at the top of the list, because it give people mastery over their own lives.
Punishing Parents – forcing attendence using welfare
The latest issue before us is a policy presented by Kevin Rudd and Jenny Macklin to suspend the welfare payments of parents whose children do not attend school. Even if this policy is implemented nationally it hugely discriminates against Indigenous parents, because many Indigenous people in Australia live in situation that are wholly different to other Australian. Yet indigenous parents in North East Arnhem have adopted a wide range of strategies to try to improve their children’s prospects. We look at some examples…
