Way forward for Aboriginal languages legislation in NSW

15 October, 2017

15 October 2017

Way forward for Aboriginal languages legislation in NSW

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) with the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) is seeking bipartisan support for greater community control of Aboriginal languages.

The peak bodies would continue to support community-led efforts to revitalise and protection Aboriginal languages in New South Wales. 

It is our people that have kept out languages alive and it is vital that our people remain in control of our languages and the efforts to revitalise them.

That's why the NSW Aboriginal Land Council shares concerns raised by the AECG and agrees that genuine community control is the only way to keep our languages strong.

The NSWALC with AECG, is seeking the following amendments to the Bill for Aboriginal Languages - introduced to Parliament this week.

The NSWALC thanked NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Sarah Mitchell for showing leadership in sitting down with NSWALC and AECG to work through the proposed amendments.

 The amendments:

  • Remove Ministerial powers to intervene in the activities of the Aboriginal Languages Trust and the strategic plan for the growth and nurturing of Aboriginal languages

  • Provide clarity and community input into appointments to the Aboriginal Languages Trust

  • Ensure funding and greater independence of the Aboriginal Languages Trust

It is our culture, our languages and it should be in our hands, not the Government's. We support those in our communities at the forefront of revitalising our languages., and we want to ensure that the future of our languages stays in their safe hands.

Acknowledgement

We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of the lands where we work as well as across the lands we travel through. We also acknowledge our Elders past, present and emerging.

Artwork Credit: Craig Cromelin, from a painting he did titled, "4 favourite fishing holes". It is a snippet of his growing years on the Lachlan River, featuring yabby, turtle, fish and family.

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