Latest news with #languagePreservation
SBS Australia
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
'This was Larrakia country first': Fil-Larrakia academic on the continuous fight for tradition and family
Dr Bilawara Lee is the Larrakia academic-in-residence at Charles Darwin University (CDU) and an Order of Australia medal recipient. Lee has authored children's books and created a podcast series around Larrakia culture and language. Known as 'the velvet steamroller' by those who are close to her, Lee shared that she doesn't mince words, especially when it comes to racism and bigotry. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island readers are advised that the following article may contain images of people who have died.) "I'm a little brown-skinned old lady with a disability [from a stroke] now, but I will keep fighting to make things better for my children and grandchildren." Admittedly quick-witted, sharp-tongued and rebellious, Dr Bilawara Lee, also fondly known as Aunty B and Lola ['grandmother' in Filipino] B, has been at the forefront of keeping the Larrakia language, culture and tradition alive. Dr Bilawara Lee has been at the forefront of keeping the Larrakia language and culture alive and thriving. Credit: Dr Bilawara Lee The Larrakia is a group of Indigenous Australians from and around Darwin in the Northern Territory. They have the longest running land claim in the Northern Territory. A tragic love story Lee, the Larrakia academic-in-residence at Charles Darwin University (CDU) and an Order of Australia medal recipient, is part of the prominent Aboriginal-Filipino kin and the largest Larrakia clan, the Cubillo family. Some members of the prominent Cubillo family Credit: Dr Bilawara Lee "My Filipino great-grandfather Juan Cubillo came over for pearling. He married my great-grandmother, Lily. She was beautiful!" Lee shared that while the couple had children and were building their lives in Australia, Juan was homesick and wanted to visit his native Bohol. He went to the Philippines and then World War II broke out. He couldn't come back. He died not being able to come back to Australia. Dr Bilawara Lee, Larrakia academic-in-residence at Charles Darwin University "It was a really sad love story." Lee shared that all of Juan and Lily's children grew up well and had families of their own, and although the Cubillo children had very little time with their father, they continued to cultivate the Filipino traditions handed down to them. "We didn't learn the Filipino language — none of us did because great-grandfather left; but we've lived the culture and traditions." The Cubillo boys started the first ever Rondalla [Spanish stringed instruments that took hold in the Philippines] group. They did that really well. Dr Bilawara Lee, Larrakia academic-in-residence at Charles Darwin University "And as a child, I didn't learn Larrakia or Irish dancing. I learned stick dancing [tinikling] and the fan dance. Lee and her mother, Mary Credit: Dr Bilawara Lee "Of course, I grew up loving Filipino food - the adobo, lechon! Many young Filipinos [cringe] at dinuguan [pork blood stew], but it's yummy!" Ancient wisdom for modern times In as much as the Cubillo family continues to value their Filipino roots, Lee says that her life's work revolves around making sure that the Larrakia language and culture persist. "For many years, I've travelled and spoken at festivals and conferences, but you can only speak to so many people at one time. I'm 75 now and it's exhausting, so I thought ' What's the best way to get across to bigger audiences? '" Wanting to reach a bigger audience, Lee wrote colourful picture books for children and did a podcast series around the Larrakia culture and language. "I've gotten into more modern media with the help of my nephews, nieces and grandchildren. The mode may be modern, but I believe in ancient wisdom that helps young ones live better lives. It's all about living a life of kindness, respect, hard work, and commitment. Dr Bilawara Lee, Larrakia academic-in-residence at Charles Darwin University When it comes to commitment, Lee is dedicated to upholding Larrakia tradition on campus and developing a Larrakia master plan for the NT government. Lee, an Order of Australia awardee, is dedicated to upholding Larrakia tradition on campus and developing a Larrakia master plan for the NT government. Credit: Dr Bilawara Lee "My master plan for the NT government includes seeing street names, suburbs, and buildings with Larrakia names. "As a full-time Larrakia person on campus in CDU ... they see me as an ambassador. I'm involved with the curriculum. "I'm a Gurdimin-ba Bali as well ... so when the medical centre here opens, I'm going to be teaching about traditional healing." Gurdimin-ba Bali is the Larrakia term for 'Spirit Doctor'. Aside from being a healer, a Gurdimin-ba Bali is also a teacher of Aboriginal spirituality. "I'd like to think I've made an impact and change in the health and education in the NT for the benefit of First Nations people and the multicultural community," Lee shared. The Velvet Steamroller Achievements aside, what Lee has become known for is her "persuasiveness" and "straightforwardness". "People call me the 'velvet steamroller'. I'm very transparent. People know I say it how it is. I don't mince words when I'm not happy about something, especially when it comes to racism and bigotry. Lee is known for her "persuasiveness" and "straightforwardness". Credit: Dr Bilawara Lee "Many people come from a Western eco-centric point of view and believe things should be a certain way. No, they don't have to be. In the end, this was Larrakia country first. You came later, so don't tell me your way is better than mine. Dr Bilawara Lee, Larrakia academic-in-residence at Charles Darwin University "I'm proud of who I am, of raising children and grandchildren who are close and proud of their heritage — Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, and Larrakia."
ABC News
07-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
NT elders fear Aboriginal languages are being lost, as communities band together to help save them
Three years ago, the United Nations issued a dire warning: Australia was one of dozens of countries facing a mass extinction event. But it wasn't flora or fauna that was at risk of being lost — it was languages. A previous UN forum had found 40 per cent of the estimated 6,700 languages around the world were in danger of disappearing — most of them Indigenous. In the three years since, dozens of Australian Indigenous communities have fought back against that decline, working with archives and the knowledge of elders to revitalise their native languages. In northern Australia, the effort last month brought together more than 50 Indigenous leaders from over 30 languages groups for a forum on protecting languages. The leaders developed a list of recommendations across a broad range of areas, including education and employment, to be finalised and presented to stakeholders in late August. For Rarrtjiwuy Herdman — one of the organisers of the Top End Langauges Forum — language preservation has been a lifelong passion. She has been working to keep her native language of Dhaŋu alive, a Yolŋu language from north-east Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Ms Herdman said time was running out for some languages, with the passing of more Aboriginal clan elders in recent years. "I've sadly only recently lost another family member, a speaker of Dhaŋu, a mentor and a father to me," she said. The Yolŋu woman said in order to keep clan languages alive, they needed to be spoken at work, in the community and in schools. "There's an assumption that all of our languages are equally being support[ed] across the Top End area," Ms Herdman said. "Some of our languages are being supported in schools [and] in community … but a few of our languages are actually endangered." While Ms Herdman is worried about languages becoming "extinct", she is also afraid the younger generation is becoming lost without their language. "The sense of responsibility to continue our languages is something that our elders and leaders are worried about, and particularly for our clan languages," she said. In 2022, the United Nations launched the International Decade of Languages global action plan, in response to the thousands of international Indigenous languages it said were disappearing at "alarming rates". At the time, a research paper led by the Australian National University found Australia had one of the worst records in the world for language loss. According to a 2019 survey by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), out of 250 Indigenous Australian languages that were active prior to colonisation, only 12 were still being actively acquired by children. The report also showed that more than half of Indigenous Australian languages still in use were only being spoken by elders. Three years on from the launch of the global action plan, AIATSIS Centre for Australian Languages director Lauren Reed said Australia was in a better position. She said the Australian government had since "seen the real need to turn the tide on language loss" and set up a national policy partnership to address the issue. "There are signs of hope that have been growing since the beginning of [2022]," she said. Ms Reed said many Indigenous language speakers needed to feel their language was "relevant" to the Western world, including seeing it used in mainstream and social media. She said she liked to think of out-of-use languages as "sleeping" rather than "extinct". Renfred Manmurulu, a speaker at the forum, presented about his South Goulburn Island language, Mawng. Mr Manmurulu said in many traditional practices, such as Mawng songlines, culture was inseparable from language. "It's a window of who you are and where you're from," he said. Mr Manmurulu said he had noticed many in the younger generations choosing to speak the "dominant" Indigenous language dialect of their region over other, "endangered" dialects spoken in smaller communities. "If you don't use the language — if you, say, use the universal language English more often than your own language — well then, that's the ending of the language," he said. He said he hoped young people could come up with new ways of using technology to make their dialects more widespread.
Associated Press
01-07-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Preserving Our Linguistic Heritage: How Divya Mistry-Patel Is Revolutionizing Bilingual Education for Future Generations
By Ovais Riaz & Waa Say - Team Editorial Evrima Chicago BIRMINGHAM, GB / ACCESS Newswire / June 30, 2025 / The Silent Crisis of Disappearing Languages In our increasingly globalized world, UNESCO warns that nearly half of all spoken languages are currently endangered, with one disappearing every two weeks. Against this sobering backdrop, educator and author Divya Mistry-Patel has emerged as a passionate advocate for linguistic preservation through her groundbreaking work in children's literature. Mistry-Patel is an educator, entrepreneur, and celebrated children's book author. She has taken a bold step toward making bilingual learning both accessible and engaging. A Personal Journey Becomes a Cultural Mission Born into a multicultural Gujarati family in the UK, Mistry-Patel experienced firsthand the gradual erosion of heritage languages in diaspora communities. 'I watched cousins who could understand Gujarati but couldn't speak it, and eventually children who couldn't even understand,' she recalls. This personal observation sparked what would become her life's work-creating tools to make language learning accessible, engaging, and intergenerational. Her latest creation, Mari Rang Be Range Biladi (translated as 'My Colourful Cat'), represents far more than just another bilingual picture book. It's a comprehensive language-learning system that includes: The Growing Demand for Multilingual Education Recent studies from the University of Chicago demonstrate that bilingual children develop stronger executive function skills, showing 20% greater cognitive flexibility than monolingual peers. Yet despite these proven benefits, the publishing industry has been slow to respond. A 2022 survey by the Cooperative Children's Book Center revealed that while 33% of U.S. children come from bilingual homes, only 12% of children's books published that year offered any non-English content. In the UK, around 20% of children speak or understand more than one language. Furthermore, around half of the world's population speaks two or more languages. Mistry-Patel has positioned herself at the forefront of changing this disparity. 'This isn't just about language retention,' she explains. 'It's about giving children the tools to navigate their multicultural identities with confidence.' Breaking Barriers in Publishing The path to bringing Mari Rang Be Range Biladi to market reveals systemic challenges in the publishing industry. Major retailers often relegate bilingual books to 'special interest' sections-when they carry them at all. Traditional publishers frequently reject bilingual manuscripts, citing 'limited market potential.' Yet professionals continue to emphasize the importance of encouraging parents to speak in their mother tongue with their children. Research has shown the benefits of bilingual learners, yet this is not reflected on our bookshelves. In a world where native languages are slowly fading from everyday use, Mistry-Patel is on a mission to ensure cultural heritage and linguistic roots are preserved. Undeterred, she adopted an innovative hybrid approach: This strategy has yielded impressive results, with the book gaining traction in both educational circles and Gujarati communities worldwide. Recognition and Future Horizons The impact of Mistry-Patel's work is gaining institutional recognition. She currently holds nominations for: Through her company, Academic Achievements Ltd, she is now developing versions in Punjabi, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil-potentially reaching over 500 million native speakers globally. A recent partnership with local schools and Kent libraries has made the book freely available to local families, with plans for similar initiatives nationwide. How Readers Can Support the Movement Mistry-Patel emphasizes that preserving linguistic diversity requires a community effort: The Ripple Effect of Language Preservation As linguist Dr. Ananya Sharma notes, 'When we lose a language, we don't just lose words-we lose entire ways of seeing the world.' Mistry-Patel's work represents a vital countercurrent to this loss, creating what educators are calling 'the building blocks of cultural continuity.' With Mari Rang Be Range Biladi available on Amazon and her expanding series underway, Mistry-Patel is proving that one passionate voice can indeed change the narrative-in any language. Mistry-Patel has more books coming soon in both South Asian languages and in English. The books are all designed to empower young minds and encourage their love for learning. Through Mistry-Patel's experience in the education sector, her experience over the years has allowed her to create resources with neurodivergent students in mind. Keep up-to-date with the latest resources, services and books created by Academic Achievements Ltd on their socials. Connect with the Movement Disclaimer This article was authored, developed, and distributed by Evrima Chicago, LLC, serving as the official editorial and media representative for Divya Mistry-Patel, founder of Academic Achievements Ltd and author of Mari Rang Be Range Biladi. This content is released for educational, cultural, and journalistic purposes. Media & PR Contact Dan Wasserman Head of Media & Public Affairs [email protected] +1 (909) 326-0347 Evrima Chicago - Editorial Syndication Bureau Sources & Citations SOURCE: Evrima Chicago LLC. press release
Globe and Mail
26-06-2025
- General
- Globe and Mail
There's an app for that: Inside the technological battle to save Indigenous languages
'I will fight until the day I die for my language to survive and thrive.' Yvette Mollen's passion for championing Innu-aimun is unwavering. The professor, researcher, author and web content developer has dedicated most of her adult life to recording, preserving and passing on her ancestors' tongue, an Algonquian language spoken by some 10,000 Innu in Quebec and Labrador. One way she does this is by developing interactive online games that help children learn Innu-aimun, while also seeing how their people lived, and still could live, on the land. For Ms. Mollen — the recipient in 2024 of the Order of Quebec for her linguistic initiatives — Innu-aimun is the language closest to her heart, but all languages matter and deserve support to stay alive. 'Because if the Creator had wanted us all to speak the same language, he would have made it so,' she says. In fact, the United Nations estimates that of the 7,000 or so languages spoken worldwide today, some 47 per cent are threatened or endangered, most of them Indigenous tongues. In Canada, there are more than 70 distinct Indigenous languages spoken by First Nations, Inuit and Métis, but according to Canada's 2021 census, only 13.1 per cent of the Indigenous population reported knowing how to speak their traditional languages, down from 21.4 per cent in 2006. What's more, there is not a single Indigenous language in Canada that is not at risk, with the level of peril going from vulnerable (when a given language is still 'used by some children in all domains' or 'by all children in some domains') to definitely, severely and critically endangered (when only a few Elder speakers remain). On the critically endangered list are Haida and Tse'khene/Sekani, both with as few as a dozen speakers. But even Cree, which includes various regional dialects and has more than 86,000 speakers, is considered vulnerable. ('Cree' is the colonial name for these languages and peoples.) In Canada, the threats against Indigenous language use and proficiency are rooted in colonialism and assimilation policies. Historically, this was accomplished through residential schools, which forced children to speak only English or French and punished those who were caught conversing in their own languages. Consequently, many Indigenous people gave up speaking their mother tongues and did not pass them on to their children, a loss that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, declared a form of cultural genocide. But several communities and academic institutions across Canada are braiding tradition and technology to strengthen vulnerable languages, or even pull them back from the brink. The FirstVoices website, a joint project by the First Peoples' Cultural Council and the First Peoples' Cultural Foundation, has served as a platform for more than 50 Indigenous nations in Canada, the United States and Australia to share their languages since 2003. And increasingly, Indigenous people are creating websites, apps and online tools, including interactive dictionaries, YouTube beginner courses, grammar and pronunciation guides and archives of stories passed down from elders. Take York Factory First Nation (YFFN) in northern Manitoba. It wanted a way for members to easily access materials to learn Inineemowin, their dialect of Swampy Cree. Since most youth these days are attached to a smartphone, an app was the logical learning tool. But the First Nation also wanted a resource that would reflect who and where they are, and where they come from—an app steeped in history and the local context. So when Jordan Dysart, a Cree-Métis software developer with Winnipeg-based Vincent Design, was tasked with creating YFFN's Inineemowin language app, he looked to the nation's knowledge holders. 'To capture the specifics, you need to be sensitive regarding cultural knowledge and what you put forward,' he says, adding that the app, built mainly for YFFN's members, would also be out there for anyone to use. Together with a language committee and cultural advisers from the community, and in collaboration with the Winnipeg design firm HTFC, they workshopped ways to deliver grammar in a non-academic, grassroots way. The result features audio files and flashcards based on aspects, objects and activities specific to the nation's location and culture. Through its eight-module Learning Pathway, it guides beginners through basic Swampy Cree grammar, vocabulary and phrases through activities that would take place on the land, such as observing and tracking animals, but also through traditional skills like hunting and sewing. 'They wanted to share their story in their specific language,' says Mr. Dysart about York Factory First Nation. 'The Inineemowin app is a fingerprint of the community.' One in a regular series of stories. To read more, visit our Indigenous Enterprises section. If you have suggestions for future stories, reach out to IE@
CTV News
25-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Late Metis elder from Saskatchewan honoured with Canada Post stamp
A Métis elder and Michif language keeper from Saskatchewan is being commemorated with a Canada Post stamp. Sophie McDougall, who passed away in 2023, was a teacher from St. Louis, dedicating her life to sharing her knowledge of cultures and language with others. 'She kept us all together,' said the honoree's daughter Peggy Parenteau at the June 17 stamp reveal. 'She taught us so many things. It's hard to believe that she's being honoured today. But she's well-deserved of it. She worked hard all her life.' McDougall was an elder with the Prince Albert Métis Women's Association (PAMWA) for 20 years, and translated books and written materials into Michif, all while engaging in other projects to preserve the endangered language. 'Working with Sophie was such an honour,' said PAMWA Director Noreen McBride in a speech at the stamp reveal. 'She took immense pride in these books, which were beautifully illustrated by local youth, and she was proud to share them with young people throughout Prince Albert and beyond.' The stamp was issued June 20, alongside two other stamps honouring Indigenous leaders. 'These honorees are widely loved, respected and admired in their communities across the country,' said Tyler Thomas, Canada Post's director of Indigenous and northern affairs. 'The Métis National Council selected Sophie for the latest stamp.' McBride used her speech to share more about McDougall's character. 'She was a woman of strength. She was a woman of wisdom. And she was a woman to be remembered,' she said. 'Her legacy lives on through her family, and her contributions to our language.'
