From Namalata Thusi’s News In Brief. Issue 16
The Queensland Government has committed $685,000 to continue special education, language and cultural programs at the Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy.
The programs will serve the dual purposes of preserving local dialects and improving educational outcomes in general.
“By studying their own culture and history, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students feel a greater sense of belonging at school and this leads to improved performance rates,” a government spokesman said.
An article in Namalata Thusi. The Queensland Government’s external publication on Indigenous issues, published by The Department of Communities.
Namalata is a Queensland Aboriginal word meaning “messenger” and Thusi is a western Torres Strait Islander word meaning “paper” or “book”.
Uncle Joe Kirk will be talking about Bush Tucker at the Balaangala Space at 98 Yoorala St, The Gap on November 26 from 3pm
Places are limited so email Michele – mcpeile@gmail.com - if you are interested
$5 for employed or gold coin donation for those not…
QILAC was one of a small number of organisations invited to address the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Inquiry into language learning in Indigenous communities. The hearing was held at Parliament House in Brisbane October 6th. The invitation to appear followed QILACs submission to the inquiry, which highlighted the need for increased funding and whole of government support for the first languages of Australia.
Nyoka Hatfield from the Dharumbal language program in Rockhampton gave an inspiring presentation on the rewards and challenges she faces in delivering a language program in schools in her area. Nyoka presented a copy of her book “Counting in the Malgadu” to the Chair of the committee Mr. Shayne Neumann and Deputy Chair Dr. Sharman Stone.
The Queensland Indigenous Languages Advisory Committee is looking to find ways to support employment opportunities for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders who have skills relevant in any way to the maintenance and teaching of our traditional languages.
To do this, the committee is collecting information about the number of people with a range of training, experience and skills and looking to find a way to link them with service users.
The Queensland Studies Authority is calling for schools to join the trial of the P-12 Australian Indigenous languages syllabuses.
The QSA has developed Queensland’s first syllabuses in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages for schools to start using from 2011. The syllabus has been developed so that students will be able to study the languages associated with their own communities and local areas at school.
QSA states “the syllabuses offer a bridge for bringing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and schools together”. (more…)
In November, three of the QILAC members were among a delegation from the Eastern States Aboriginal Languages Group who were invited to Government House in Canberra to meet with Her Excellency the Governor General Quentin Bryce.
QILAC members, Bridget Priman, Melinda Holden and Faith Baisden were among the Eastern States Aboriginal Languages Group delegation who met with the Governor General Her Excellency Quentin Bryce at Government House in Canberra
A new text, Warrgamay Mayay Pronouns, has been developed. This book is the first in a series of Warrgamay texts which will include Country, Kinship, verbs, pronouns and a phrasebook.