Creative language revival strengthens communities as well as language and culture. In the Creative Language Revival Project, Elders, children, community members, linguists and creative artists work collaboratively to revive Aboriginal language. The project is underpinned by the understanding that song, dance, story, visual art and relationship to Country are all deeply embedded in knowledge about language and culture. The Creative Language Revival Project provides an opportunity to actively participate in the process of revival and reclamation of Victorian Indigenous languages. It affirms the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of Indigenous people of South Eastern Australia and has profound and positive implications for future generations of all Australians.

In Australia, before European colonisation, there were approximately 250 Indigenous languages with 500 language varieties spoken in Australia, approximately 40 of them in Victoria. The Creative Language Revival Project sits within the context of strength-based language revival work taking place in communities in Australia and around the world. Rather than approaching the reclamation process from the deficit model of lost community memory and limited historical records, these approaches work with the resources that have survived colonisation. They work with Elders and with children and breathe new life into the languages through the Arts. The Creative Language Revival Project incorporates songs, stories, poetry, theatre, visual art and the practice of Deep Listening into language revival processes.

For many years, Elders and linguists Aunty Doris Paton and Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir have played a key role in the development of songs within the Creative Language RevivalProject. They have been generous in providing language translations and advice about cultural protocols in the use of Aboriginal language. On the significance of language, Aunty Doris says:

Language tells us who we are, where we come from, how we relate to that country, how we relate to the stories from that country. It gives us our sense of belonging.

Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir is a linguist at the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation of Languages and works closely with children and the revival of language through the Arts. In her words:

Language is central to understanding and celebrating culture. Creative revival of Aboriginal languages strengthens communities as well as language and culture. When used in songs, stories and other creative arts practices, Aboriginal languages become accessible to children and the broader community, enriching all involved. We love to hear Aboriginal languages being spoken and sung once again. So does the Country.

Deep thanks go to these wise women and to all of the Elders and community members who have supported, enabled and contributed to the project.

Songs of the ‘Betayil’ – Whale Songs of Phillip Island Laura Brearley 250618

Images by Lisa Kennedy, Trawlwoolway