In celebration of, and in solidarity with, the spirit of NAIDOC Week, the Kadimah in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation (Monash University) are honoured to host an online panel discussion exploring why Aboriginal languages revival is necessary, beautiful and beneficial.

Language reclamation, revitalization and reinvigoration is emerging as a key way to reconnect with heritage, and recover cultural autonomy as well as the spiritual and intellectual sovereignty of Indigenous communities. Our panel will explore what is being done by Yiddishists and Aboriginal Languages Advocates and what our two communities can learn from each other.

Join Professor Rebecca Margolis (Director, ACJC) and Kadimah Board member Professor Kathy Laster (Chair of the Victorian Interpreter and Translation Service LanguageLoop) in conversation with Professor Ghil’ad Zuckermann (Professor of Linguistics at Adelaide University and world expert on Language Reclamation) and Yoolongteeyt Vicki Couzens (Gunditjmara woman, RMIT University Vice Chancellors Indigenous Research Fellow and Senior Knowledge Custodian for Possum Skin Cloak Story and Language Reclamation and Revival in her Keerray Woorroong Mother Tongue).

The event will also premiere the reading of a poem by Jenna Richards, proud Barngarla woman, of the Galinyala (Port Lincoln, South Australia), Moolga Widyooroo Windoo Windoo (Tears Flowing Endlessly) in Barngarla and English about linguicide (language killing).

Register via TryBooking

Image credit: Featured artwork by Candace Swan Taylor (Ashawariya Designs), appearing in the publication Barngarlidhi Manoo — Speaking Barngarla Together, Barngarla Alphabet and Picture Book, Introduction to the Barngarla Language written by Linguistics Professor Ghil’ad Zuckermann with the Barngarla People of Port Lincoln, Port Augusta and Whyalla.