Avon Catchment Council 14th December 2008
Yeyi moort-ngaanaarng, kaaram baal Avon Catchment Council, nidja nyitiyang yaaly-bidiyaa-yok, soil scientist, baal ngany mar-waarngkiny: "Yuart! Noonook, one culture, one people, one place..." Yey woort-koorl!
Yeyi baal yaaly-bidiyaa baal kaadidjbert nidja Noongar-aa-boodjaa... yeyi nidja bidiyaa-yok, baal kaataa-waarngkiny....Noongar-aa-noll dalanginy, djuret-bert, yaaly nornabin!!
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3 comments:
this looks like a really interesting blog. The shame is that even tho Im noongar I dont understand some of the stuff you have written. You are really lucky that you have this knowledge. Alot of stolen generation have been locked out of it.
Hello bobbyboy, many thanks for your comments and I hear and understand your sadness in not knowing your own indigenous tongue.... You say I am lucky for having this knowledge, and yes, I can well understand that you would think that, but it is a lonely existence when you have no one or very few to share it with. I have taught many Noongar in both language nest environments and at university. Some of those present were of the 'stolen generation'. And it was great to share it with them. But being a 'nyitiyang wadjalla' comes with its own controversey, not that it was ever a concern for my late teachers and their next of kin, as I became one of their family, and it is a relationship that continues to this day. I am much indebted to them. All the best bobbyboy, don't give up on the possibility of learning more about your language - it is indeed a beautiful language, and the songs... few know them, few know their qualities... but we live in hope don't we, that one day they will, know them! Yey boordu noonook ngaanang waangk!! Djoorep kaadidjiny!! Kaawiny boolaa
Ah anyone can be deemed an "outsider". Ive had strips torn off myself, its not pleasant, but you cant let people bully you.
Unfortunately for some, language has become cultural capital, and so once it is used as a commodity, its valuable in a different way...and by proxy, not as accessible to some.
But dont give up bobby, I myself speak not so good nyungar, and rarely get a chance to practice it or learn new words, but I can still murmur to myself sometimes....
be proud of who you are regardless of language.
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