Young leaders are having their say on the importance of Indigenous language and revitalisation programs in Garramilla (Darwin).
The Young Champions Gathering is taking place ahead of PULiiMA’s three-day Indigenous languages and technology conference, which starts in full later this week.
PULiiMA’s founder Daryn McKenny says young First Nations people working with languages often have a lot of pressure put on them.
“Whilst it’s exciting to be in a position to bring our languages back, and hear voice once again through our young ones, that’s a lot of weight being placed on them,” Mr McKenny says.
“What we wanted to do was provide a safe space for our younger people to be able to come together and yarn.”
Women use own group to discuss sector
Mr McKenny says women have been leading the reclamation of language, with hundreds showing up to a women-only gathering in previous years.
“For decades, it’s been the women who have been the carers for our languages, leading the revival,” he says.
Darwin will play host to the conference this year. Photo by Harry Down on Unsplash
The conference will have its first men’s gathering group this year.
The biennial event includes both people from around Australia and the world working on community-based Indigenous language projects.
Keynote sessions include speakers from NPY lands in Central Australia and Canada’s Commissioner of Indigenous Languages, Dr Ronald E. Ignace.
Feature photo by Dylann Hendricks | 딜란 on Unsplash