1. Australia: a continent of languages

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) reports that there were more than 250 Indigenous Australian languages, with 800 dialects, spoken on the continent at the time of European settlement in 1788.

More than 230 years later, only 100 of these languages are spoken by Elders across Australia and of these, 13 languages are being actively taught to the next generation (AIATSIS, 2019).

The disappearance of language and culture is directly related to colonial and government practices in Australia. Children, forcibly removed from their communities between 1910 and 1970 (known as the Stolen Generations), were placed on missions and taught English. This policy caused ongoing trauma and loss of connection, history, family, culture and language.

Reconciliation Australia and Narragunnawali provide comprehensive resources about reconciliation. 

2. Recovering language

Annalee Pope’s article on the ABC website examines the importance of reviving Indigenous languages. In her native language, Wakka Wakka, Pope says, ‘meeŋ ɖanuŋ duun yuna ŋai ŋunun ŋai ɖanuŋ duun ŋine gira’—‘Today my language is sleeping, in the future, my language will be awake’ (ABC, 2019).

Through initiatives and efforts by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, early learning centres, schools, and community groups, Indigenous languages are being recovered, documented and taught in formal and informal ways. Bodies such as AIATSIS, Reconciliation Australia, and state and federal governments are also helping in these efforts.  

Felicity Meakins, research fellow at the University of Queensland, examines the development of Kriol, a hybrid language developed in remote Indigenous communities, in this article on The Spoke.

The way children acquire language is complex, and you can learn more with the ECA Learning Hub module Supporting language development, which examines the way children learn language, including an understanding of multilingual and bilingual development with case studies of children learning Vietnamese, Spanish and Indigenous languages.

3. Sharing language and culture with children
There is a strong connection between language, culture and identity, so maintaining and valuing a first language contributes to a child’s self-image and consequent learning success.

There are many ways to share language and culture with children. Reconciliation Australia and Narragunnawali provide resources, support and frameworks to assist educators to meaningfully embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learning into programming.

Have you seen Little J and Big Cuz? A talented cast including Miranda Tapsall, Deborah Mailman and Aaron Fa’Aoso, with a brilliant script, design and production values, this short animation about Indigenous Australian children was developed with Aboriginal worldviews and knowledge and the Early Years Learning Framework (2009). Watch episodes online here.

ECA has a wealth of publications and online learning available, including:

• An Everyday Learning Series title, A Guide to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures: the important first step to reconciliation by Joanne Goodwin.
• ECA Learning Hub professional learning modules Reconciliation in action Part 1 and Part 2 by Tracey Simpson
• A Research in Practice title, Dreaming stories: A springboard for learning by Jenni Connor and Geraldine Atkinson.

Joanne Goodwin will facilitate and Geraldine Atkinson will be a panel guest at ECA’s 2019 Reconciliation Symposium.

What are you doing on 10-11 May? Join us in Melbourne for the 2019 ECA Reconciliation Symposium. Over 13 travel scholarships are available to cover the cost (up to $1880) of travel, accommodation and ticketing to the event. It’s a great opportunity to connect, share knowledge and come together to move towards reconciliation in the early years. Apply now.