News from the Board
Big thanks to the Chair of our board, Robert McLellan, for providing this update.
Waɲuŋar ‘Greetings’,
It gives me great pleasure to provide this year’s first update from the Board of Living Languages. Already, the year 2021 has kicked off and I am pleased to see our language programs re-connecting with communities across Australia. 2020 proved to be a challenging year for Living Languages. The unprecedented mobilisation against the nature of our work challenged our communities, our Board and in particular, the staff traversing through the significant Melbourne shutdown periods. Nevertheless, it has proven how truly resilient and dynamic the Living Languages team really are.
As the successive Chair, I am inspired by our organisation’s resilience, adaptability and overall sense of belonging as we transition into a new year of opportunities. These same core values remained with our old peoples throughout colonisation’s abrasive nature toward our first languages. They are the reasons why we are able to continue revitalising languages; these values remain unwavering in our spirit and they are prevalent within the composition of our new and revitalised Board.
We are now governed by a majority Indigenous Board which also includes diverse representation across the states and territories of Australia. I am pleased to introduce them here.
Giinagay ngujawiny ‘Hello everyone’,
This year I am looking forward to learning more of my language including stories and songs. Language revitalisation means that I can help keep my ancestors’ language and culture alive for future generations.
Michael
Hello everyone, I’m living on Wurundjeri country, and I’m delighted to have joined the Living Languages board! Living Languages is very highly esteemed among academic linguists such as myself, as we recognise the incredibly positive impact the organisation has in Indigenous communities. This year will see exciting new developments for Living Languages, and I’m looking forward to supporting this in whatever way I can.
John
Minyahgu Jimbelung ‘How are you going, friends?’
Each year it gives me great joy to hear more of our young people speaking in language. What was taken away is now coming back and it is the voice of youth that will carry it into the future.
Faith
Hello from the land of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation. This year I am looking forward to working with the team at Living Languages to continue strengthening connections with heritage languages across the country in sustainable, innovative and inspiring ways.
Senan
Hello from Wurundjeri country (Brunswick)! This year I am looking forward to Living Languages applying everything we've learned during 2020 to draw on technology and our wide network of community linguists and language practitioners to support Indigenous people learning, teaching and strengthening their languages all around Australia.
Alice
Kaya bandang ‘Hello all’,
For me Language revitalisation means reconnecting us with country, place and space, ancestors and new beginnings for future generations.
Coleen
Gabi milimangil,
This is a Woiwurrung language greeting coming from the Yarra valley here in Melbourne. Wherever we are, keeping language strong is important; in the language of my ancestors (Cornish), dydh da! (Have a good day!)
Stephen
Te Gurtji ‘Hello Friend’,
Language revitalisation is the existence of our language in our everyday life that influences the dynamics of whom we work with in our local communities. Our community has spaces, places endeared to us, our establishments are existent on need towards breaking cycles of colonisation. Language is the self determinant that drives and influences the very mindset of those that enter our spaces, our places, our establishments.
Lee
The Board have now adopted a progressive work plan for this year which will enable sustainability and continuity for our programs. We hope that this will influence reformational change to re-inspire our existing programs, their effectiveness and our community’s authentic connection with the value that we create.
We look forward to working with our Program Director, Nina and the team for an exciting year ahead!
