LANGUAGE
In the beginning, in Buwarraja, the Great Spiritual Ancestors sang the land in Songlines and brought the languages to the people all over the country. As the Songlines ceremonially linked people to their neighbours, Yidumduma grew up learning the languages of the neighbouring tribes. He can speak 3 languages fluently and parts of 7 in total.
Click on Read More & Resources for full video transcripts and further research.
There were an estimated 270 Aboriginal language groups and 500-600 dialects or distinct languages in Australia prior to colonisation. Today, 145 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are still spoken in Australia and Wardaman is one of these but considered endangered with about 8 speakers. Only 18 languages remain strong, meaning they are spoken by people of all ages.
Language Map
ABC interactive Map You will find the Wardaman language in the Fitzmaurice region of north central Australia.
Wardaman Language Lesson: Intro
Yidumduma teaching some Wardaman words at Menngen community, 2006.
Creation Story & Flood
Listen to Yidumduma share the first chapter of the Creation Story relating to the flood in full Wardaman language. This clip is from the archive of CAAMA Productions, Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, and used with their permission.
Language Crisis
Yidumduma discusses with Ernie Dingo the language and culture crisis in his community. This began when the Wardaman were forced from their land in the late 60’s/70’s, ironically with equal wages and rights law. Today about 100 people speak and understand limited traditional language. Only a handful are fluent in full language. Likewise, there is a language crisis for the 30 language groups in the Katherine region. Segment used with permission from CAAMA Productions series Talking Languages with Ernie Dingo.
Talking To The Ancestors 1
Yidumduma walking into a sacred art site and talking in Wardaman language to the Ancestors who live in the rock art images . This is a shared site along the Victoria River between the Ngaliwurru and Wardaman. The Victoria River is a shared boundary of the two tribes. At the request of the Ngaliwurru elders the rock art images are not shown.
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Talking To The Ancestors 2
Yidumduma departing the same art site after visiting in 2005, saying farewell to the Ancestors, singing and thanking them. This is a shared site along the Victoria River between the Ngaliwurru and Wardaman. Yidumduma sings a Warrangin boundary song for the two tribes.
boyjorn boyjorn wunowninjarra…….travelling and singing and walking faster.
juwi….. goodbye
Sign Language 1
Yidumduma and nephew Jonas Doctor share traditional Wardaman sign language and modern usage from the streets of Katherine. Sign language was handed down from the Dreamtime Buwarraja, to communicate across distances and languages, in ceremony, mourning, hunting and for the deaf. Featuring signs for: initiated men, women, fighting, water, big rain, swimming, wife, tracking, hungry, listen, eat……
Sign Language 2
Yidumduma Bill Harney and nephew Jonas Doctor share traditional Wardaman sign language and modern usage from the streets of Katherine NT. Sign language was handed down from the Dreamtime Buwarraja, to communicate across distances and languages, in ceremony, mourning, hunting and for the deaf. Featuring signs for: riding, shoeing a horse, sick, doctor, Clever Man (Wizard), white man, ghost, Stolen Generation…
