International Decade of Indigenous Languages
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the period between 2022 and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022-2032), to draw global attention on the critical situation of many indigenous languages and to mobilize stakeholders and resources for their preservation, revitalization and promotion. The proclamation of an International Decade is a key outcome of the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, for which the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) lead global efforts.
The International Decade aims at ensuring indigenous peoples’ right to preserve, revitalize and promote their languages, and mainstreaming linguistic diversity and multilingualism aspects into the sustainable development efforts. It offers a unique opportunity to collaborate in the areas of policy development and stimulate a global dialogue in a true spirit of multi-stakeholder engagement, and to take necessary for the usage, preservation, revitalization and promotion of indigenous languages around the world.
Resources
At the time of colonisation, more than 250 Indigenous languages were spoken across the country, including 800 dialectal varieties. Today, there has been a resurgence in the need to preserve and revive Indigenous languages across Australia in an attempt to halt the loss of culture and linguistic diversity amongst Australia's First Peoples.
Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
The Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages, Inc., was established in 1994 and is the peak body for Aboriginal Languages revitalization in the state of Victoria, leaders in the field of Language Revitalization, Resources Development, Research, and the archival, development, Aboriginal Language Library and Aboriginal languages digital information.
First languages Australia
First Languages Australia is working toward a future where Aboriginal language communities and Torres Strait Islander language communities have full command of their languages and can use them as much as they wish to. They are working with regional language centres nationally to develop Gambay, the first Australian map that allows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities control over the way their languages are publicly represented. It showcases over 780 traditional languages. Visit the First Languages Australia Resources page for more information.
Research Unit for Indigenous Language (RUIL)
The Research Unit for Indigenous Language (RUIL) is located in the University of Melbourne Faculty of Arts and was established in 2013 and is the first of its kind in Australia. RUIL works with Indigenous communities across Australia and the region to expand and strengthen Indigenous language research, and to support efforts by communities to maintain their linguistic and cultural heritage.
Mawng Ngaralk
This project website features an online Mawng Ngaralk dictionary, videos and sound recordings of Mawng and other community languages from the area. Mawng is the common language spoken on Warruwi, an island also known as South Goulburn Island in the North West of Australia's Arnhem Land.