Bidjara Workshop brings community together
Presenter: Language workshops in Charleville have heralded a new beginning for Bidjara people. The three-day event celebrated on the banks of the river, giving Bidjara mob of all ages a chance to show off what they’ve learnt.
Trevor Robinson: [Speaking Bidjara]
Reporter (Keira Jenkins): This is the first-time uncle Trevor Robinson has performed a Welcome to Country in Bidjara language, it is something he has picked up in language workshops in Charleville, Queensland and he couldn’t be prouder to be passing it down to the next generation.
Trevor: It’s part of the phase of the revitalisation of our culture and that and we think the most appropriate way to do that is through language because it involves the children as well.
Reporter: Out on the Warrego River, the community celebrates all they’ve learned at the workshop.
Child:Isaac Nahi Ngandina
Reporter: The kids swim, play and take part in dance workshops.
Olivia Robinson: So, I have two little boys, and I want them to grow up and to know their Bidjara culture and to know their Bidjara language and it was amazing to see them out there dancing.
Reporter: But the language lessons are not just for the kids, Elders like Aunty Dawn Willett say their memory’s been jogged and language is coming back to them through these workshops.
Aunty Dawn Willett: When we had this workshop here, two days, some of the words they were saying, it wasn’t sounding good, so I’d repeat it and I’d say it the right way, and I’d say, ‘oh gee, it’s coming back to me’.
Reporter: They’ve been supported by Gamilaraay linguist, Des Crump, to bring these workshops to life, he says it’s been a privilege to be part of Bidjara language revitalisation.
Des Crump: It’s just that sense of pride that real connection for their identity about who they are and where they’re from.
Reporter: There are plans for a language dictionary in the future but for now aunty Dawn says she just wants Bidjara mob to keep up the momentum and keep using the language.
Aunty Dawn: I hope that we keep this going, we got it going and we keep it going.
Reporter: Keira Jenkins, NITV News.
