Warramiri Introduction:
Djaŋu Warramiriwum guyaŋinyi banya djanal barkhu rakaraŋ ŋäytji, biḏi’yu gamunuŋgu ga miyamu djanaliŋguwaywuḻi ŋayiḻi, miyalk ga ḏirramu.
Introduction:
“If we teach the truth, we will stay strong. There will be no fog or doubts, even if there is trouble, for we know where we are going. If children are taught at their ancestral home, they will grow up strong, even if there are obstacles. Learning their own language is very important, so they can understand the songs and paintings of their culture and read the tracks on the ground. This is everyday learning. When they are taught like this, the children will work together, even with teachers and new people from outside, both balanda and Yolngu. The most important thing is to have trust with one another, and this takes time.”
Here I am with the Governor General of Australia, The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO in 2010. I was talking with her about both ways education and language learning at the Building a Literate Nation conference in Sydney.
Here I am with Gurraŋgurraŋ my grand daughter (gutharra). We are in Geneva in Switzerland at the United Nations. We are about to go in and give a talk about bilingual education. We were with a group including students from Sydney.
My philosophy in teaching
Marŋgikuwa yumurrkuny, yuwalkku ga Dhunupawu djukawu’ yana ŋuwakurru.
Teach the children true paths: straight and good.
Djanal ŋarru ŋuthan djinaŋuya romdhu, ga guŋga’yunmi ŋarri,
They will grow up with this custom, and help each other.
ga milkum waripuny yumurrkuny’ romgu mäwayawu.
and again to teach others good way and of peace.
Mä ŋarru ŋuthan marŋgiyi yol djanal,
So they will grow up good, knowing who they are.
Ŋalaŋuru ga ŋalambal djanal yaka ŋarri?
From where and where they are going?
Bilanya bitjalak ḏarpa bayiŋ ŋuthan borummiyi.
Like tree that grow good with fruits.
This is a video about our school at Gäwa
Other work I have done with includes Teaching from Country with Charles Darwin University
I have worked with the CSIRO on Bowerbird. This is ‘A place to share and discuss Australia’s biodiversity’. I am contributing my Yolŋu scientific knowledge from Gäwa at Elcho Island (Galiwin’ku).
I have also been invited to many conferences. Below are some of my presentations.
PDF of a PowerPoint presentation given at the OTTC Conference