Conflicting Knowledges: Barriers toLanguage Continuation in theKimberley
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1375/S1326011100001162Abstract
AbstractThe Kimberley Language Resource Centre (KLRC) earned its status over three decades as the representative body for Kimberley languages. In 2004, the organisation started to respond to grassroots concerns about the lack of language speakers in the younger generations. Aboriginal people are also connecting loss of languages to loss of bio-cultural knowledge. In 2006, the KLRC began promoting language continuation strategies such as Teaching On Country. The organisation uses a series of diagrams to assist with this work and is developing an Aboriginal oral curriculum. Lack of support from within government and education circles for these strategies led the organisation to reflect on the difference between Aboriginal and Western knowledge systems. This paper questions Western approaches to education and argues that Aboriginal holistic knowledge must be supported within appropriate teaching and learning contexts to ensure the survival of languages and knowledge. It makes a case for evidence based, community engaged research examining language and knowledge continuation. It asks that Western education providers, who segregate language knowledge from experience and from country, examine and revise their practices. In conclusion, it calls for a realistic dialogue with government which honours the intentions of former Prime Minister Rudd's Apology to the Stolen Generations.
Downloads
References
Aly W. ( 2010). What's right? The future of conservatism in Australia. Quarterly Essay, 37, 1– 110.
Bates D. ( 1938). The passing of the Aborigines: A lifetime spent amongst the natives of Australia. Retrieved 28 March, 2010, from http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/b/bates/daisy/passing/.
Brennan G. ( 1979). The need for interpreting and translation services for Australian Aboriginals, with special reference to the Northern Territory – A research report. Canberra, ACT: Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). ( 2009). Closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Retrieved 27 March, 2010, from http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/about/publicationsarticles/corp/budgetpaes/budget09_10/indigenous/documents/closingthegap/intro.htm.
Evans N. ( 2010). Dying words: Endangered languages and what they have to tell us. Chichester, WS: Wiley-Blackwell.
Foley G. ( 1999). Whiteness and blackness in the Koori struggle for self-determination. Paper for Winter School on Advocacy and Social Action 16th-18th July 1999 Trades Hall, Melbourne. The Koori History Website. Retrieved 27 March, 2010, from http://www.kooriweb.org/foley/essays/essay_9.html.
Kelly G. ( 2005). Report on threats to the practice and transmission of traditional knowledge: Regional report: Asia and Australia. Phase II of the composite report on the status and trends regarding the knowledge, innovation and practices of Indigenous peoples and local communities relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Prepared for the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Canberra, ACT: AIATSIS.
Kimberley Development Commission. ( 2009). Population structure & characteristics. Retrieved 27 March, 2010, from http://www.kdc.wa.gov.au/kimberley/tk_demo.asp.
Kimberley Land Council & Waringarri Resource Centre. ( 1990). The Crocodile Hole report. Broome, WA: Kimberley Land Council.
Kimberley Language Resource Centre. ( 2008). Submissions for the proposed National Indigenous Representative Body: Public Submission 93. Retrieved 27 March, 2010, from http://fahcsia.gov.au/sa/indigenous/progserv/engagement/NIRB/Documents/rep_body_submissions/ps93.htm.
Kimberley Language Resource Centre( 2009). Teaching On Country Early Years and Integrated Curriculum Development. Ministerial Briefing April 19.
Kimberley Language Resource Centre. ( 2010). Whose language centre is it anyway?In Hobson J., Lowe K., Poetsch S. & Walsh M. (Eds.) Re-awakening languages: Theory and practice in the revitalization of Australia's indigenous languages. Sydney, NSW: Sydney University Press.
Maffi L., & Woodley E. ( 2010). Biocultural diversity conservation: A global sourcebook. Salt Spring Island, BC: Terralingua.
Nettle D., & Romaine S. ( 2000). Vanishing voices: The extinction of the world's languages. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Pearson N. ( 2009). Radical hope: Education and equality in Australia. Quarterly Essay, 35, 1– 105.
Schmidt A. ( 1990). The loss of Australia's Aboriginal language heritage. Canberra, ACT: Aboriginal Studies Press.
Rudd K. ( 2008). Full transcript of PM's speech. Retrieved 18 February, 2009, from http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23207256-5013172,00.html.
United Nations. ( 1989). Convention on the rights of the child. Retrieved 19 May, 2009, from http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm.
University of Adelaide. ( 2005). Kaurna Warra Pintyandi. Retrieved 29 March, 2010, from http://www.adelaide.edu.au/kwp.
Wardhaugh R. ( 1998). An introduction to sociolinguistics( 3rded.). Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2010 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education is in the process of transitioning to fully Open Access. Most articles are available as Open Access but some are currently Free Access whereby copyright still applies and if you wish to re-use the article permission will need to be sought from the copyright holder. This article's license terms are outlined at the URL above.
