[Ngapartji Updates] International Day of the World's Indigenous People - focus on languages

[Alex Kelly]

Tomorrow is International Day of the World's Indigenous People, for your 
info we are forwarding some statements from the U.N and Aboriginal and 
Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma.
Palya,

As 2008 is the International Year of Languages, this International Day 
is also an opportunity to recognize the silent crisis confronting many 
of the world's languages, the overwhelming majority of which are 
indigenous peoples' languages. The loss of these languages would not 
only weaken the world's cultural diversity, but also our collective 
knowledge as a human race. I call on States, indigenous peoples, the 
United Nations system and all relevant actors to take immediate steps to 
protect and promote endangered languages and to ensure the safe passage 
of this shared heritage to future generations."

- Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary General.

*
International Day of the World's Indigenous People*

8 August 2008

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom 
Calma, has urged governments to fund and resource the protection and 
promotion of  Indigenous  languages, as part of this year's 
International Day of the World's Indigenous People (9 August). 

"The theme of this year's International Day of the World's Indigenous 
People is the protection and promotion of the world's endangered 
languages, which is especially relevant to Australia, whose Aboriginal 
and Torres Strait Islander languages are under threat of extinction," 
Commissioner Calma said.

Speaking from the Garma Festival in Nhulunbuy, where cultural 
preservation is a major theme, Mr Calma said that the vast majority of 
Australia's Indigenous languages have been eroded and some have been 
lost forever.

"When language is lost, knowledge and wisdom are lost, and so too is 
identity. It is through language that we interpret our belief systems; 
our religion, spirituality, knowledge of country and so much more."

According to UNESCO, at least 3000 of the world's 6000 languages are 
endangered, and at least 800 are very close to extinction.  Commissioner 
Calma said that while Australia once had around 300 Indigenous 
languages, now there are only 20 or so not endangered. 

"Indigenous languages can only be preserved through policies that commit 
governments to language maintenance and language revitalisation programs 
at all levels of Australia's educational institutions," Mr Calma said. 
"This means employing Indigenous language speakers in schools; 
supporting bilingual programs where they exist; creating benchmark 
testing options for Indigenous literacies; funding the development of 
Indigenous language texts, school books and picture dictionaries; and 
any other action that supports and strengthens Indigenous language 
literacy across Australia.

"Unfortunately, the preservation of Indigenous languages is considered a 
low priority when governments and others look to Indigenous 
disadvantage. But governments make a mistake if they ignore language and 
consider it a separate problem from health for example. While Indigenous 
people may be struggling with high levels of economic distress, poor 
health and poor education outcomes, it is our culture -- transmitted 
through our languages - that defines us and gives us dignity and a sense 
of purpose." 


*
*
-- 

Alex Kelly

Creative Producer

Ngapartji Ngapartji

http://bighart.org

http://ngapartji.org

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