Transforming relationships and foregrounding connectedness through language curriculum

Lloyd Dolan and Elizabeth Thomson 2017 Acknowledgement

Guwaymbanhadhu nginyalgir nginha ngawumbingidyal.

Badhu gulbarra mayinygalang birrandhi Wiradjuri, Biripi, Ngunnawal bu Gundungarra.

Banhidhugu gulbarra birrandhi mayiny maradhalbu, yaalabu, girrabu.

Banhidhugu gulbarra mayinyguwal nginha ngawumbingidyala. Dhadhi learning? Where from?

Firstly we need to acknowledge the work done by Uncle Dr Snr and Dr John Rudder. In doing this we have attempted to keep in mind some key concepts:  “Wiradjuri is not English, and it is not English using Wiradjuri words, Wiradjuri is Wiradjuri.” (Grant and Rudder, 2010, p5).

 Wiradjuri is a “free word order language that is framed by a network of relationships”. (Grant and Rudder, 2014, p2).

 Yindyamarra Winhanganha – Respecting, honouring, being polite, being gentle, and going slowly while remaining in a constant process of self-reflective practice.

‘the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in’. 5 Key transformations What?

1. Dhadhi? 1. Where from? 2. Minyali? 2. What about? 3. Ngandhigu? 3. Who for? 4. Minyanganha? 4. What is it? 5. Dhagu? 5. Where to?

As Grant and Rudder (2014) explain

“Nothing that exists can cease to exist, but it can transform” Expressions of existence in Wiradjuri Dhadhi? language

Who a person is can be described as the combination of their experiences and throughout life our inside identity remains the same as our outside identity transforms.

The identity of a person exists in a large network of relationships, if your identity gets lost “it must be somewhere” or “it might have gone inside”.

Each identity can be defined by its location in the fixed, static, multi- dimensional network of relationships in which it exists.

Grant,S. and Rudder, J. 2014 A Grammar of Qualities are expressed in intensities of attributes. Wiradjuri Language, Restoration House, Well Very well

without well A little bit well Extremely well 4 Key Principles of Curriculum Dhadhi?

• Mambuwarra ngaaminyagigu, Look to see

• Wudhagarbinya wudhadhuraygigu, Listen to hear

• Winhangarra gulbaligigu, Learn to understand

• Yindyalawayagunhanha Consider our Continual actions

“Look to see, listen to hear, learn to understand and consider our continual actions” Uncle Dr Stan Grant Community Wudhagarbinya Yindyalawaygunhanha wudhadhuray-gi-gu Minyali? About the curriculum

English Academic language Language language

Culture Nation

Mambuwarra Wiradjuri Winhangarra ngaaminya-gi-gu language gulbali-gi-gu Genre approach to Language Learning Minyanganha?

“Ngiyanhi yalmambirrabu yalbilinyabu murruyanhigin.gu”

• Language in context – a physical context and social purpose • Identity • Nation building • Community development • Finding meaning • Expressing meaning through language (vocabulary and grammar) Factors of successful teaching of Wiradjuri Minyanganha? language

• Cultural context – language is centred in culture. • Connections to community and country – credibility in the community is an essential element, understanding that Elders and community are the language owners. • Teacher’s language proficiency – often in revitalisation context staying a couple of steps ahead of the learners. • Teaching skills – learning a language and teaching a language are totally different things. • Knowledge of language forms – understanding and using structures in Wiradjuri language. Transforming lives through language Minyali?

• Opportunity to learn and grow language. • Bringing the inside out. • Building and rebuilding relationships and connections. • Rebuilding a sense of space and place. • Awakening our sleeping language. • Sharing transformation. • Reconnecting to country and spirituality.

We are not revitalising Wiradjuri to be a living language, rather we are living language. Transforming the University Ngandhigu?

Of the seven Indigenous languages taught at Australian universities.

Four (4) are languages still in use by large numbers of speakers: • Arrernte – Batchelor Institute (Vulnerable) • Ngaanyatjarra – ANU (Vulnerable) • Pitjantjatjara – University of South Australia (Vulnerable) • Yolŋu Matha – Charles Darwin (Vulnerable)

Three (3) are languages which are being revitalised: • – ANU and Sydney University (Critically endangered) • Kaurna – University of Adelaide (Critically endangered) • Wiradjuri – Charles Sturt University (Critically endangered) Transforming the Community Ngandhigu?

• Language revitalisation. • Focus on learning and using outside of the classroom. • Connecting and reconnecting to family, kinship and country. • Mature aged and elders. • Wiradjuri citizens and citizens of Wiradjuri Nation. • Living language in modern Australia.

“We came together as Aboriginal people, but we left with our own identity” 2016 Graduate. New Relationships and connections Dhagu?

• Commencing in session 1 2014 (17 students) and its first graduates in 2015. • 2017 we are expecting to have reached a total of 51 graduates from the course. • With students co-enrolled in B. Arts and B. Teaching (Primary). • Informed Citizens of Wiradjuri. • Proud Wiradjuri Citizens. • Wiradjuri language is making new meanings, transforming lives, reconnecting people and Country. • With a growing body of language learning and teaching resources. • A framework for other Aboriginal language revitalisation programs. References

Amery, R. (2012). Taking to the airwaves: A strategy for language revival. In M. Ponsonnet, L. Dao & M. Bowler (Eds), Proceedings of the 42nd Australian Linguistic Society Conference – 2011, Australian National University, Canberra ACT, 2-4 December 2011 (pp. 5-26) Gale, M.-A. (2012). Grammar rules, OK? What works when teaching a highly endangered Aboriginal language versus a stronger language? In M. Ponsonnet, L. Dao & M. Bowler (Eds), Proceedings of the 42nd Australian Linguistic Society Conference – 2011, Australian National University, Canberra ACT, 2-4 December 2011 (pp. 75-96) Grant Snr, S., & Rudder Dr, J. (2010). A New Wiradjuri Dictionary, English to Wiradjuri, Wiradjuri to English. Wagga Wagga: Restoration House. Grant Snr, S., & Rudder Dr, J. (2014). A Grammar of Wiradjuri Language. Wagga Wagga, Restoration House. Hajek, J., Nettelbeck, C. and A. Woods. 2013. Leadership for Future Generations: A National Network for University Languages. Office for Learning and Teaching Final Report. University Languages Portal Australia (ULPA), Where can I study an Australian Indigenous Language, accessed 13/09/2017, https://www.ulpa.edu.au/where-can-study-indigenous-languages/ UNESCO Atlas of world’s languages in Danger. accessed 13/09/2017, http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/endangered-languages/atlas-of-languages-in-danger/