Funding to help preserve local Aboriginal language, Miyay Birray Youth Service CEO Darrel Smith, left, SHAE Academy CEO Chris Binge, Miyay Birray Youth Centre Youth Officer Glen Crump, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Raquel Clarke, Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre’s Kylie Benge.
Friday, 21 August 2020
A UNIQUE language program has secured funding to bring Moree’s Aboriginal community together in an embrace of culture, with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall today announcing a $20,000 State Government grant to support the Gulagama-li (Embrace) project.
Mr Marshall said the initiative would establish a platform for the Gamilaraay language to be be taught and shared throughout the wider community.
“Across the region Aboriginal nations are striving to document and pass on language and culture to the next generation,” Mr Marshall said.
“At Moree, Miyay Birray Youth Service will work with Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre to establish an advisory group of local Aboriginal Elders, which will work with a linguist to deliver basic Gamilaraay language training programs and assist with translation and pronunciations of words.
“The advisory board will develop a number of educational resources in language including sight cards, Welcome and Acknowledgement of Countries and video recordings which will be distributed for use in organisations across Moree.
“Moree has such a proud Aboriginal culture and this program is a great way to record all that important knowledge which Elders have stored away. I look forward to seeing the body of work the advisory board pulls together.”
Miyay Birray CEO Darrel Smith encouraged Aboriginal people of all ages to get involved with the advisory group.
“Miyay Birray will be hosting several workshops to establish the advisory group at the Dhiiyaan Centre in Moree and we welcome all local Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal community members to attend,” Mr Smith said.
“Miyay Birray is very happy to receive the funding on behalf of the community, as the revival of the Gamilaraay language is seen as a vital step in reconnecting with our rich past and the learning of a vital part of our culture.
“Language determines who you are as a people and we see this as a stepping stone to the revival of a strong Aboriginal culture and history of the Gamilaroi people in Moree.”
The first meeting of the advisory group will be Tuesday, 1 September 2020, at 11am at the Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre.
For further enquiries, contact Miyay Birray on 02 6752 6038 or the Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre on 02 6752 1346.