As a white Australian would it be in any way offensive or wrong to learn an indigenous Australian language? I’m just trying to learn what I can about the land I live on. Thanks if you reply
Hey! Thanks for reaching out to me.
I just want you to consider a few things before you set out to learn about Aboriginal languages. Firstly, as with any instance of learning an Aboriginal language, you need to speak to a Language Knowledge Holder. As you may, or may not know, our history in this country post-European contact, has been difficult, to say the least. There have been instances of systemic cultural genocide whereby one of the ways we were colonised was through dispossession and forced removal to missions and reserves. This is where we were not allowed to speak our languages. We were, oft times, violently reprimanded for using our languages.
There are stages of colonisation that all colonised people have been through:
1. Denial and Withdrawal - Colonial people look at Indigenous people as having no culture, moral values, social merit.
2. Destruction/Eradication of cultural representations of Indigenous people (including languages)
3. Denigration/Belittlement/Insult - creating new systems in Aboriginal societies through new imposed religions, thus belittling our own belief systems
This has been happening with our people for nearly 250 years. For many of us at this time, we are reclaiming our languages. That can be a very personal thing. Some people don’t want to share that, understandably. There are 5 stages in the process of decolonisation to keep in mind:
1. Rediscovery and Recovery - many people are only just finding out which Nations they belong to and learning their languages.
2. Mourning - working through the anger and grief at what was taken from us.
3. Dreaming - looking at our futures and realising our aspirations.
In your search, you will find people and communities who are at varying stages of decolonisation when it comes to their languages. You need to respect where they are. You need to understand there are still a lot of people who are at the Mourning stage; they are still hurting over what we have lost, and will not be forthcoming with sharing information they may have only just rediscovered themselves.
My advice to you is to find a community that is at stage 5 - Action. This is because they already have their commitment to what they want to aspire to with language revitalisation and sharing. This will be communities that already have language programs in schools and at TAFE. They will have Language Knowledge Holders who know how important it is to continue to share and use languages.
Your best bet would be to approach a school or TAFE that has an Aboriginal Language Program. Mainly because the community consultation would have already been done; it would have the support of Language Knowledge Holders and Elders; language resources are already in use; and the Program, more likely than not, is designed to be delivered to EVERYONE, not only Indigenous students. If you do, find some way to support the Program, whether it’s volunteering your time, or making donations to the local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG). It should be about reciprocity and meaningful sharing.
It is a hard fought journey for many of us; and there are still communities where languages are threatened daily (but that’s another story). I think it’s great that you want to learn; I sincerely hope it’s not for reasons tokenism or exploitation.
1. Find communities who want to share language knowledge.
2. Respect communities that don’t want to share.
3. Support Programs in place already.
4. Support Aboriginal Education in general (if in NSW, you can be an associate member of your local AECG - membership costs $2 and funds goes towards supporting Indigenous students).
I’m happy to chat anytime, if you have more questions. I do appreciate you coming to me for advice beforehand. Where are you in Australia? I may know where you can make a start. Good luck!
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