NAIDOC WEEK – Language Champions; thankyou from Baymarrwaŋa & Bentley

Our Languages Matter !!! Thank you to the people at NAIDOC;

‘So greatful for this award, thank you, let me say that, the fight to save our precious language heritage goes on’. and that we have alwasy felt that ‘In the land where ‘closing the gap‘ is short hand for assimilation, and assimilation means extinction, we understand Ted Strehlow to be on the right track’ ;

“Above all, let us permit native children to keep their own languages, -those beautiful and expressive tongues, rich in true Australian imagery, charged with poetry and with love for all that is great, ancient and eternal in the continent. There is no need to fear that their own languages will interfere with the learning of English as the common medium of expression for all Australians. In most areas of Australia the natives have been bilingual, probably from time immemorial. Today white Australians are among the few remaining civilized people who still think that knowledge of one language is the normal limit of linguistic achievement.”

T.G.H Strelow, 1958.

TRIUMPH OF THE MAYPAL: YOLŊU POETRY & THE HAPPINESS OF SHELLFISH.

David Hancock rocks the house at the non-official launch Maypal, Mayali’ ga Wäŋa: Shellfish, Meaning & Place. A Yolŋu Bilingual Identification Guide to Shellfish of North East Arnhem Land.

“For Yolŋu people, language and country are connected parts of a sacred inheritance, the wellspring of knowledge, wisdom and a truly priceless possession. This wisdom is reflected here in this collection in the Yolŋu names, poetry and ecological associations of maypal.”

We were overwhelmed by David’s magnificent close up photographs of the characters of the sea shore and their most intimate moments.

Then, I described the precise scientific (Linnaean) identifications with matching colour photographs that make it the only comprehensive field guide to Australian shellfish above the tropic of Capricorn and thus utterly unique.

Then, under a full moon, I read a poem by Barraṯawuy, we had free drinks and it was a wonderful night. Thank you to all of you who came, it was lovely to see you!

Barraṯawuy –  “Yakarra manupaŋu”

Yalalaŋumirrinydja  walalany dhu ŋuthan dhiyakidhi maypalgu wiripu yäku mala ga marŋgithirr.

Later as the children grow they will learn the many names of shellfish.

Ḻirra-ŋäṉ’ka gaŋga galkirri ga ḻuŋgurrma gaŋga, ga djalathaŋ, ŋayaŋu wargugu ḻiya roŋiyirr gurruṯukurr.

When the wind blows gently from the North-west, softly from the North, the South, you remember loved ones.

Gapu wapurarr ŋayi ga ŋorra ga ḻirra ŋäṉ’ka

ŋayaŋu nhuŋu wuyunhamirr gurrupanmirr ŋayaŋu marrtji nhuŋuwuy gurruṯumirr yarratakurr marratjamirriŋulil ga marrkapthun bitjandhi billi bala maypal yurrnha nhe dhu märram.

When the sea is calm, when the wind blows gently from the North-west, you yearn for family, long gone – remembered, this is the time to gather shellfish.

Ḻirra-ŋäṉ’ka ŋayaŋu nhuŋu wuyunhamirr gurrupanmirr ga dhamanapan guyaŋanhawuy djäy’-ŋupan gurruṯumirriyanhamirr

When the wind blows, feelings intertwine joining with memories, memories of loved ones;

Maypal nhe dhu guyaŋa ga ŋayaŋu nhuŋu dhaman

apanminy djäy’-ŋupan gurruṯumirriyanhamirr.

remember the shellfish and your heart will reconnect with family and friends.

 

 

NAIDOC WEEK MAYPAL

https://www.facebook.com/David-Hancock-Photography-401672776569114/

Maypal – tales from the Yolngu tidal zone.

The Yolngu coastal range covers 1500 kilometres of coastline to the mainland and 1750 kilometres of coastline on the islands.

Twenty-three striking images from the Arnhem Land tidal zone will be exhibited at the gallery by north Australian photographer, David Hancock, a major contributor to the publication.

Maypal, mayali’ ga wanja: shellfish, meaning and place, is a Yolngu bilingual identification guide to shellfish of north-eastern Arnhem Land; the beautifully bound book is written in three languages – Yolngu Matha, English and Latin and is designed to celebrate, pass on and protect Indigenous knowledge of the region.

Dr Bentley James – distinguished Arnhem Land beachcomber, Yolngu shellfish name collector, anthropologist, author and linguist, will launch a unique publication at Gallery TwoSix in Winnellie on Friday evening.

Here in the Northern myth: https://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2017/07/04/maypal-mayali-ga-wanja-tales-yolngu-tidal-zone/ you can read about Maypal, mayali’ ga wanja: shellfish, meaning and place, the Yolngu bilingual identification guide to shellfish of north-eastern Arnhem Land.