Description
Pama Language Centre is working with Language Nations to develop strategies to ensure the long term viability of our languages. Pama Language Centre is dedicated to the recording, revival, revitalisation and maintenance of the unique and precious cultural heritage of the first nations of Cape York Peninsula.
Every child born to an Indigenous nation has the right to grow up with an ancestral language as a first language1. Our languages, oral literatures and epistemologies will be documented rigorously in order to maintain and revitalise our cultures.
Of the forty-two or more languages once spoken across Cape York Peninsula, of which there are over a hundred dialects, even the strongest are now threatened by language shift. As arrangements for the Pama Language Centre (PLC) are being finalised, the last fluent speaker of one of our target languages (Mungkanhu) has died.
Without a systematic effort, the cultural heritage and peoplehood potential of the Indigenous nations of Cape York Peninsula are rapidly being lost.
This situation has implications for individual and family wellbeing. Wellbeing is connected with the health of traditional language. A strong language is an empowering context in which individuals are able to develop meaningful goals.
The loss and degradation of traditional language is a catastrophe threatening the future of individuals as much as it threatens the future of our peoples.
The Indigenous peoples of Cape York Peninsula have long been aware of the absolute importance of our languages. This is said in plain words, again and again, echoing down the generations, from every nation, at every gathering, from young and old.
The future for the Indigenous nations of Cape York Peninsula will be a
multilingual future.
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RECENT FACEBOOK POSTS
facebook.comAurukun Life Stories Workshop
Chivaree Centre and Pama Language Centre collaboration at Aurukun, Life Stories workshop: Wik-Mungkan, Wik-Ngathan, Wik-Alken and Kugu Uwanh Ancestral Language Experts are making an important contribution to the revitalisation and maintenance of their languages through recording their reminiscences as original ancestral language texts and paintings. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/11639338/PLC/PressRelease_LifeStories_AurukunDec15_2016.docx
Aurukun Life Stories Workshop
Chivaree Centre and Pama Language Centre collaboration at Aurukun, Life Stories workshop: Wik-Mungkan, Wik-Ngathan, Wik-Alken and Kugu Uwanh Ancestral Language Experts are making an important contribution to the revitalisation and maintenance of their languages through recording their reminiscences as original ancestral language texts and paintings. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/11639338/PLC/PressRelease_LifeStories_AurukunDec15_2016.docx
Goals and Vision – Pama Language Centre
Step 1 of your Ancestral Language Plan is your vision for your Ancestral Language. It should be aspirational and not limited by current difficulties or apparent realities. We all have a right to our ancestral languages and our descendants also have that right. With determination, work and time your vision for your language will be achieved.
This year, Guugu Yimidhirr teacher Lillian Bowen's Prep class performed their school play in Guugu Yimidhirr.
Hope Vale Children singing the song Gunbu Minhangu
Timeline Photos
Pama Language Centre intergenerational transmission choir project kicks off in NPA. The PLC project featured in the Torres News this week.
Choir and Children’s Choir – Pama Language Centre
Ancestral Language Champions Lillian Bowen and Cheryl Cannon are working hard to revive a tradition of Hymn singing in Guugu Yimidhirr, which was strong among their parents’ generation, and to reintroduce Guugu Yimidhirr language into the church.
Pama Language Centre
Pama Language Centre's cover photo
CD of Injinoo Ikya hymn – Pama Language Centre
The Injinoo Ikya team’s first project, involving both recording and intergenerational transmission, was the production of a CD of Injinoo Ikya hymns.
Justin Trudeau to introduce Indigenous Languages Act
It is time for Australia to follow the lead of Canada.
pamalanguagecentre.org.au
Linguist Louise Ashmore has been in Aurukun since March, leading the establishment of Language Action Teams and the development of Language Plans for Wik-Alken/Ngatharr and Wik-Ngathan.
Quiz
