KJ Language Camp: Caring for language and country together in UNESCO’s International Year of Indigenous Languages
More than 50 Martu of all ages — including ranger teams, families, school children and artists — came together this September for KJ’s first ever Language Camp!
The camp was held over four days and attracted Martu from Jigalong, Punmu, Parnngurr and Kunawarritji communities. Everyone was keen to learn about country and language alongside senior Martu elders.
The Kunawarritji Kinyu rangers created a fantastic space for Martu to spend time together teaching, learning and painting. The camp was a success with Martu taking the lead sharing knowledge between generations and caring for one another. Some of the highlights were:
Younger Martu listened intently, and everyone shared a lot of laughs, during the “jawarninpa-ra julyjujanu wangka” (digging up old language) game — where people dug up pujiman Martu Wangka words on pieces of paper and asked elders to explain the meanings to the group.
Senior Martu elder Kumpaya Girgiba told a Mirlpa story — a traditional style of women’s storytelling using a janyji (stick) in the sand — to a huge crowd of wantikaja (women) about all of the families who belong to Well 33 area. Other Martu elders also sat down and taught rangers and family members knowledge of their country.
The Kunawarritji Kinyu rangers led a Martu-only eight-car trip so that everyone could visit, check up on, look after, and pay respect to Kinyu (important site).
Muuki, Waka and younger rangers together made fire using a traditional ngujurn / paji (firesaw) with a particular type of wood that the Kinyu rangers had collected for the task earlier that day.
Old people and young people shared stories around the fire at night, before sitting down to retell and record them while painting together during the daytime
Senior Martu elder, Thelma Judson, helped upcoming highschool language superstar Naomi Whyoulter use an audio recorder to record her first ever pujiman story. A story about her own family and where they had travelled on Martu country before leaving the desert in the 60s.
Senior Kunawarritji Kinyu rangers also guided younger rangers who were visiting the area for the first time to see some of their grandparents’ places on country – a rich and extremely emotional experience for all involved.
After the camp Martu gave lots of positive feedback. One ranger said he was moved to tears upon hearing one of his grandparent’s stories for the first time. There was a proud and happy feeling at the end of an intense four days of inter-generational learning and sharing on-country about language and Martu ninti (knowledge).
Martu are caring for each other, their country, and their languages together. They are keeping their knowledge and culture strong for future generations. Everyone’s really looking forward to the next language camp in 2020.
