The majority of Indigenous languages in Australia are vanishing at world-leading rates, but communities and organisations across the country are working to revive and preserve them.
An important focus is replacing European place names with the original Indigenous ones.
On the United Nations' International Mother Language Day, the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria is inviting all Victorians to embrace traditional place names.
Assembly Co-Chair and Bangerang and Wiradjuri elder Aunty Geraldine Atkinson said language was a key to connecting with more than 60,000 years of culture and connection to the land and a living reminder of the resilience of her people.
“Language connects us to who we are as First Nations people, and it makes me so proud to see the revival of our languages across Victoria and beyond," Ms Atkinson said.
"As a proud Bangerang woman, my favourite language word is 'Dungguldja Winyarr' which means ‘strong woman’. I love this word because it’s an acknowledgment of all the deadly and strong women past, present and future.”
Ms Atkinson said the strength of her own people and culture has allowed her own ancient language to survive and be spoken "with pride" after at one point being "reduced to whispers".
She said she would like to see traditional languages embraced by the wilder community as part of Treaty, and dual names for places was a simple way to achieve that.
"It’s such a positive and easy way for people to get a glimpse into our culture and history. Imagine if we could get Aboriginal languages into every primary school classroom across the state,” she said.
Only 40 First Nations languages are still spoken in Australia - down from more than 250 pre-colonisation - with only 12 being taught to children, according to a study by the Australian National University and the University of Queensland.
The study found that half of the world's 7,000 recognised languages are endangered, with about 1,500 at risk of not being spoken by the end of the century.
'The key to understanding'
Ms Atkinson, who has worked in the education sector for decades, said language was important not just for communication but self-esteem and "knowing one's place in the world".
"It can also help bring us all closer together. It’s the key to understanding each other, so of course it deepens connections and helps build respect,” she said.
“Ours is the oldest living culture on the planet and I’m so heartened to think about our languages being passed on for generations to come."
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority describes all Victorian Aboriginal Languages as “revival languages” in various stages of “reclamation".
Geraldine Atkinson says language is important for self-esteem and "knowing one’s place in the world". Source: Supplied/SBS News
The First Peoples' Assembly is the body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Victorian Treaty process.
Although the Assembly is not yet negotiating a Treaty, it is in the process of establishing the architecture and ground rules for future negotiations to take place. This involves listening to and capturing the ideas and hopes community members have for what Treaty should deliver.
International Mother Language Day on 21 February recognises that languages and multilingualism advance inclusion and help ensure that nobody is left behind.
The theme for this year’s celebration is using technology for multilingual learning: challenges and opportunities.
The United Nations estimates there are more than 476 million Indigenous people living in 90 countries across the world and while they only make up around six per cent of the global population, they speak more than 4,000 of the world's languages.
The organisation predicts that up to 95 per cent of the world's languages may become extinct or seriously endangered by the end of this century. It has designated the period 2022 to 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.
The United Nations General Assembly resolution was adopted "to draw attention to the critical loss of Indigenous languages and the urgent need to preserve, revitalise, and promote Indigenous language” and to “take urgent steps at the national and international levels".
