RNLD DRIL Professional Development

Two of Wangka Maya’s Language Workers, Lorice Douglas and Donald Thomas, attended the Resource Network for Linguistic Diversity’s (RNLD) Documenting and Revitalising Indigenous Languages (DRIL) professional development workshop in Melbourne at the end of November 2015. They learnt many new skills and improved upon old skills.

Donald and Lorice returned to

Wangka Maya excited and motivated

to continue improving their skills in

Documenting and Revitalising

Indigenous Languages.

March 2016

Volume 18, Issue 01

Jakul Kanganyakata

Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre

Inside this issue:

Wangka Maya AGM 2015 P.02

Farewell to Albert P.03

Language Expo P.04

Wangka Maya Radio Show P.05

News From IBN Linguist P.06

Wangka Maya Pilbara Languages Calendar 2016 P.07

About Wangka Maya P.08

Jakul Kanganyakata means ‘messenger’ in Nyangumarta.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that this newsletter may

contain the names and images of people who have passed away.

Pictured: Donald Thomas. Photo: RNLD.

Pictured: Lorice Douglas. Photo: RNLD.

Pictured:

Margaret Florey,

Lorice Douglas,

Donald Thomas.

Photo: RNLD.

Back row: Sandra

Delaney, Donald

Thomas, Lorice Douglas,

Sharon Edgar-Jones,

Godfrey Simpson, David

Moon, Terrie Lowe,

Aaron James. Seated:

Trisha Coleman, Edie

Maher, Caroline

Bradshaw, Kelli Owen.

Seated: Anansa Birrell.

Photo: RNLD.

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Wangka Maya AGM 12th December 2015

Wangka Maya’s 2015 AGM was held mid-December. Fourteen members and eight staff members attended the meeting. Lorraine Injie chaired the meeting with Bruce Thomas. Basil Snook welcomed everyone to country. Julie Walker presented the Manager’s annual report and the annual financial/audit report. Jason Lee presented the annual language team report. Several new Directors were elected along with the strong group who have long been Board members. The Directors of Wangka Maya for 2016 are now: Kayleen Arnold, Greg Gardiner, Lorraine Injie, Alice Mitchell, Ann Sibosado, Basil Snook, Janet Stewart, Harry Taylor, Jane Taylor, Bruce Thomas, Dennis Thomas and Lesley Woods.

Behind screen: Donald

Thomas, Front row: Sylvia

Lockyer and Lesley Woods;

Back row: Alice Mitchell,

Janet Stewart, Ann Sibo-

sado, May Chapman,

Kayleen Arnold and Julie

Walker (photo: Talor

Derschow).

Julie Walker, Lorraine Injie and Bruce Thomas (photo: Annie

Edwards-Cameron).

Foreground: Jason Lee; Background

from left to right: Harry Taylor and Basil

Snook (photo: Annie Edwards-

Cameron).

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Farewell to Albert Burgman

Linguist Albert Burgman left Wangka Maya in October 2015 after over 15 years working for us. Albert was the Senior Linguist at Wangka Maya from 2000 to 2004, and from then to 2015 worked as an off-site linguist based in Newcastle. He will be remembered fondly, especially as having a big part in producing Wangka Maya’s dictionaries.

In Broome for the WANALA conference in September 2014. Left-right: Jason Lee, Clint

Taylor, Gina Gray, Albert Burgman, Colletta Cooke and Ashill Allen.

Albert had a hand in producing all of Wangka Maya's

dictionaries. These include computer CD-ROM

dictionaries in 13 languages and printed dictionaries in 21

languages.

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Members of the Pilbara language communities

gathered in Yirramagurdu (Roebourne) on the 23rd

and 24th September 2015 at the Ngurin Cultural

Centre on the banks of the Nguriny Ngurru (Harding

River). The Pilbara language groups came to share

and discuss their language projects. Ngarluma

Traditional Owners warmly welcomed all the

participants to their country. The theme of the Expo

was Kurrnganaku which is a Nyangumarta word

meaning ‘coming together to discuss something’ and

also has the sense of ‘getting a manner dealt with’.

Wangka Maya Manager Julie Walker provided the

inspiration for the Expo and put a lot of effort into

organising it with help from the Wangka Maya Board and staff members. The Ngarluma and

Yindjibarndi Foundation provided the catering and MC Josie Samson guided the proceedings with a

warm and humorous touch.

A number of the Wangka Maya Board

and staff members spoke about the

language projects they are working on.

Representatives from a variety of Pilbara

language and community groups also

talked about their language and culture

projects. Julie Walker stated that the

forum was ‘organised to create

opportunities for the Pilbara Aboriginal

community and key stakeholders to

come together to discuss the status of

Aboriginal languages and to gain access

to information which will lead to

improved services of quality language

programs’.

A brainstorming and discussion session at the end of the

forum inspired the group to meet annually and to continue

to develop a shared and united vision for the future of

Aboriginal languages in the Pilbara.

Pilbara Language Expo 2015

Pictured: Julie Walker, Lorraine Injie, Janet Stewart, Kayleen Arnold, May Chapman, Donald

Thomas, Dennis Thomas, Ann Sibosado, Jason Lee, Annie Edwards-Cameron, Nora Cooke,

Chrissie Black, Peter Hill, Talor Derschow, Chiyoko Kitaura and Josie Samson (photo: Annie

Edwards-Cameron).

Pictured: Lorice Douglas and her father Tim Douglas as he sings the Ngurin song

(Harding River) (photo: Annie Edwards-Cameron).

Jane Taylor, Nora Cooke, Alice Mitchell and Tina Taylor

(photo: Annie Edwards-Cameron).

5

Wangka Maya Radio Show

Wangka Maya’s long-running radio show is still being broadcast and can regularly be heard over three networks:

1. Hedland Community Radio 101.3 FM on Friday mornings around 10 AM.

2. Ngaarda Radio in the west Pilbara on Friday mornings around 10 AM.

3. The PAKAM (Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media, part of NIRS) network on Sundays around 4 PM.

Hedland Community Radio and Ngaarda Radio also stream their stations online. That means that our show potentially reaches a worldwide audience! Don’t forget to tune in on one of the following:

Remember also that our popular ‘Word of the Week’ segment can be heard three times a

day everyday on Hedland Community Radio 101.3 FM:

9 AM

11:30 AM

3 PM

Station/Network

Location Frequency/URL Time

Hedland Community Radio

Port Hedland South Hedland

101.3 FM Fridays 10 AM

Online streaming http://www.hedlandradio.com.au/

Ngaarda Radio

Online streaming http://ngaardamedia.wix.com/ngaarda-media

Fridays 10 AM

Karratha/Dampier 92.1 FM

Roebourne 96.1 FM

Bellary Springs 101.7 FM

Youngaleena 102.1 FM

Onslow 102.7 FM

Paraburdoo 102.9 FM

Wakathuni 104.9 FM

Tom Price/Karajini 106.5 FM

PAKAM Kimberley http://pakam.com.au/radio/radio-stations/

Sundays 4 PM

6

The IBN language project is off to a strong start this year with some projects continuing from

last year and a few new projects being planned.

The first printed draft of the Banyjima dictionary is being checked at the moment with

Language Specialists. Once it has been checked and published work will start on the

Yinhawangka dictionary. A Yinhawangka See It Say book is under way, with two more

recording sessions planned before publication. There are internal body parts charts planned for

all three language groups. There is a Nyiyaparli dreamtime story book planned too.

If you are an IBN member and would like to contribute to the IBN language project or are

interested in learning more about your language or linguistics please contact Annie at Wangka

Maya.

News From IBN Language Project

IBN Linguist Annie Edwards-

Cameron at work

(photo: Chiyoko Kitaura)

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Talor Derschow has been working as Media Trainee at Wangka Maya for four months now. Talor worked as a receptionist for nearly eight months before this at Wangka Maya. Talor has completed some great artwork as Media Trainee. Talor uses a graphics tablet connected to her

computer to create and edit colourful digital illustrations. She was able to add colour digitally to the many black and white pictures saved on our digital archive that were drawn by a range of artists in the past.

At the end of 2015 Talor completed a colourful calendar for 2016. The calendar features illustrations of animals, birds, insects and elements from the Pilbara drawn by various artists and coloured by Talor. Each picture in the calendar has a corresponding name from one of the thirty one Aboriginal languages of the Pilbara. Important dates, such as public holidays and starting dates for school terms, are also featured. The calendar is now available for purchase from Wangka Maya for AU$10.00. You can come in to Wangka Maya to buy the calendar or you can purchase it online at: http://www.wangkamaya.org.au/store#!/Wangka-Maya-Pilbara-languages-calendar-2016/p/57895275/category=7090336

Wangka Maya Pilbara Languages Calendar 2016

Media Trainee Talor Derschow at work (photos: Annie Edwards-Cameron).

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Corner Throssell and Hamilton Roads PO Box 2736 South Hedland WA 6722

Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre

Interested in learning about Aboriginal culture?

Then why not book into our Cultural Awareness Training

We offer our CAT in an informal & relaxed atmosphere with short presentations and time

to ask questions. We aim to promote greater understanding and reconciliation.

Here are some of the topics that will be covered during the day:

Aboriginal Culture (skin groups/storytelling/languages & more)

History of the Pilbara

Communication Styles

Working with Aboriginal People

Includes: Workshop manuals & materials, lunch and morning tea

Bookings are essential $250 per person

Upcoming Dates

20 April 2016

For more information or to make a booking call Gina on (08) 9172 2344 or email:

admin@wangkamaya.org.au

Phone: (08) 9172 2344 reception@wangkamaya.org.au

Cultural Awareness Training

Visit our website:

www.wangkamaya.org.au

Wangka Maya is supported by the Australian Government’s

Indigenous Languages and Records

Program.

We also thank BHP Billiton Iron

Ore, WA Department of Regional

Development and Lands, Town of

Port Hedland, IBN Corporation, Australian Institute of Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander Studies for their support.

Staff Manager: Julie Walker Administration Officer: Gina Gray Administration Assistant: Chiyoko Kitaura Receptionist: Chrissie Black Senior Linguist: Jason Lee

Language Workers: Nora Cooke, Lorice Douglas, Donald Thomas Linguist: Peter Hill IBN Linguist: Annie Edwards– Cameron Media Trainee: Talor Derschow

2015-16 Board of Directors

Kayleen Arnold, Ann Sibosado, Harry Taylor, Lorraine Injie, Greg Gardiner, Alice Mitchell, Basil

Snook, Janet Stewart, Jane Taylor, Bruce Thomas, Dennis Thomas and Lesley Woods