The document summarizes the State Library of Queensland's Indigenous Languages Project. It aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language revival through various programs and activities. These include language residencies, workshops, developing wordlists and other materials, and programs focused on early childhood education. The Project works with communities across Queensland to research and document languages in the State Library's collections and increase access to language materials.

1. Concurrent Session One 10.30 – 11.30
Cultivating Language – the SLQ Experience
presented by Desmond Crump

4. Welcome to C&K V1.015 © This document is the property of C&KPage 4
100 (approx.)
languages in
Queensland
700+ languages
in Australia
50% are
spoken in
some
form
< 20 are strong
2 are living/thriving
5 Indigenous Language Centres
support community language
revival and maintenance

5. Developed in response to the 2005
NILS.
SLQ Indigenous Languages Project

6. SLQ Project Aims
• Support capacity of community to research & manage their
language;
• Increase access and discoverability of language materials within
State Library collections to support the growth of local knowledge of
groups;
• Assist Indigenous languages workers in new media & emerging
technologies to record & document their languages;
• Facilitate networking opportunities to share ideas, best practices and
concerns regarding the revival and maintenance of languages in
Queensland; and
• Raise wider community awareness & appreciation.

7. Language Materials at SLQ
• The State Library
collections include a
diverse/extensive range of
language materials,
particularly relating to
Queensland Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander
languages.
• Web-based Materials
• Original Materials
• Published Materials
• Audio/Visual Materials

8. Enable Access
• Indigenous Languages Coordinator & Project Support
Officer part-time positions: research, identify and increase
access to Library Collections.
• kuril dhagun and Indigenous Knowledge Centres: promote
and increase language awareness through community
language activities; build local collecting capacity and
documentation of cultural heritage.
• Documentation of Collections: compilation of language
material (wordlists, vocabularies, etc.); including
digitisation of State Library collections and development of
resource guides for community use.
• Development and dissemination of language resources for
community use.

9. 4
Language
Residencies
offered since
2013
13 Participants from Torres
Strait, North Queensland,
Central Queensland, Fraser
Coast, and Southern
Queensland
20+ Queensland languages researched

10. Engage Community
• Research Discovery Workshops: improve
community access/discoverability of State
Library collections through research activities.
• State Library Indigenous Languages
webpages to support community research,
language revival and raise language
awareness in the broader Queensland
community.
• State Library Indigenous Languages Blog as
an online space for sharing and networking
across Queensland language communities.

11. 9 Research
Discovery
Workshops
since 2009
225 Participants from Torres
Strait, Northern Peninsula
Area, Cape York, Gulf, North
Queensland, Central
Queensland, Fraser Coast,
and Southern Queensland
85+ Queensland languages/dialects researched

12. Build Capability
• Community-based training: regional
workshops to enhance community capacity in
language skills, IT, recording, archival skills,
etc.
• Development of partnerships and networks
between State Library of Queensland and
language communities across Queensland,
including Language Centres, Indigenous
Knowledge Centres, community language
workers, community organisations, etc.

13. 15
Regional
workshops
offered since
2011
300+ Participants from NPA,
North Queensland, Central
Queensland and Southern
Queensland
50+ Queensland languages supported

14. Key activities, programming for early
years.
SLQ Indigenous Languages

15. First Five Forever
• Early years literacy program
• Incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
languages:
– Mackay / Yuwibara Language
– Torres Strait / Kala Lagaw Ya
• Posters in language for rhymes, songs, etc.
• Website: http://first5forever.org.au/

16. Council Participation map
from pg 5 silky
Access – increasing access to early literacy experiences
Reach – reaching all families with children 0-5
Capability – workforce capabilities and standards
Collaboration – collaborative partnerships & coordination
Awareness – family and community awareness campaign
First 5 Forever connects to families through public libraries,
Indigenous Knowledge Centres (IKCs) and community agencies

17. The Corner
• Interactive space for under eights
• With the support of their parents and families, children
can explore and engage in the creative hands-on and
minds-on experience of a digital exhibition, online
games and reading activities.
• Programming includes range of activities: art, craft,
storytelling, etc.
• Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content such
as storytelling, books which feature language.

18. Children’s & Holiday Program
• Changing themes to engage young people with games,
toys, books, etc.
• Our current theme is Children’s Picture Diaries which
brings to life artwork form the collection by children from
Cherbourg, Kelvin Grove, Ipswich and Poruma who
wrote and painted about where they live, what they love
and who they are.
• A team of artist and designers have created the
children’s Picture Diaries in The Corner using artworks
from the State Library’s collection, books, toys,
materials and other resources to create an inspiring
place for children and families to create and play
together.

19. Language Wordlists
• Wordlists have been extracted from
State Library collections.
• Collated and compiled using Miromaa
software program.
• Longreach example – workshop in
2010; view in Longreach was ‘there’s
no language left or recorded’.
• Presented community with ~300 words
from Iningai language plus 500+ words
from neighbouring languages.

20. New Knowledge
• Mackay workshop: Yuwibara language
considered extinct.
• Historical wordlist 1870 provided the
basis for an ABC Open digital story on
Yuwibara Body Parts.
• The first time the language had been
openly spoken in the region for 100+
years!
• Weblink:
https://open.abc.net.au/explore/90786

24. Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes
• Using the wordlists for parts of the body –
http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/resources/atsi/languages/word-lists/body-parts
• Early childhood teachers can create songs, rhymes, etc.
• Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes
• Hokey Pokey
• Body Charts

25. Audience Participation
• Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes –
Gamilaraay
• Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes –
Yugara
• Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes in your
local language …

26. Marrin Gamu
• Indigenous Language Song Competition
hosted by ABC and First Languages
Australia.
• The rules are fairly straightforward:
– Sing a song in the traditional language
of your area!
• Marrin Gamu website:
www.marringamu.com.au

27. Numbers, Counting Games
• Using the wordlists for numbers –
http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/resources/atsi/languages/word-lists/indigenous-numbers
• Early childhood teachers can create counting songs, rhymes, games, etc.
• Five little fish
• 12 Days of Christmas

28. Audience Participation
• Counting in Gamilaraay
• Counting in Yugara
• Counting in your local language …

29. Say G’day
• Using the wordlists for greetings –
http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/resources/atsi/la
nguages/word-lists/say-gday-in-an-
indigenous-language
• Early childhood teachers can help
children learn greetings in the local
language

30. Audience Participation
• How to say g’day in your local language

31. SLQ Contact Details
State Library of Queensland
Des Crump
Ph. 3840 7893
Email: Des.Crump@slq.qld.gov.au
Rose Warsow
Ph. 3842 9087
Email: Rose.Warsow@slq.qld.gov.au

32. SLQ weblinks
• SLQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages
webpages: www.slq.qld.gov.au/resources/atsi/languages
• The Corner: Level 1 Info Zone -
http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/services/library-spaces/the-corner
• First Five Forever:
http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/resources/children-and-
young-people/first-5-forever

33. Further details
• For further information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages at
the State Library of Queensland, please contact:
kuril dhagun, State Library of Queensland
Stanley Place, South Brisbane Qld. 4101.
PO Box 3488, South Brisbane Qld. 4101.
Telephone: (07) 3840 7666 Fax: (07) 3842 9126
• SLQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Webpages:
www.slq.qld.gov.au/info/ind/languages
• SLQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Blog:
http://blogs.slq.qld.gov.au/ilq/
• SLQ New Media Toolkit: www.slq.qld.gov.au/resources/atsi/languages/toolkit