Dhudhuroa Language Day: Students Come Together to Celebrate Dhudhuroa Language
Written by: Dr Bill Forshaw | Academic Specialist – Indigenous Education
On March 21 2024 Beechworth Montessori school hosted students learning Dhudhuroa language from five schools: Harrietville PS, Dederang PS, Wooragee PS, Beechworth Montessori and Bright P-12 College. Over 200 students participated on the day, ranging in age from Prep through to Year 12.
Dhudhuroa is an Australian Aboriginal language of North-East Victoria. The language was severely impacted by colonisation and currently has no fluent speakers. Despite this the language has been undergoing revival for many years and is now taught in five schools across North-East Victoria. These programs are supported by the Dhudhuroa language team associated with the Dhudhuroa Waywurru Nations Aboriginal Corporation.
Bill Forshaw from the Research Unit for Indigenous Language in the School of Language and Linguistics has been an active member of the language team since 2021 providing professional development and undertaking collaborative research to revitalise Dhudhuroa language. This work has been supported by RUIL’s Indigenous Language Worker Training program and a number of small grants from the Indigenous Knowledge Institute and Language Data Commons of Australia.
The language day began with a Welcome to Country from Dhudhuroa man Nathan Lovett-Murray who spoke Dhudhuroa in public for the first time to open the event. Children were divided into four groups and rotated through various activity stations. Each station incorporated a different learning style, but all had a focus on learning and using Dhudhuroa language.
The craft station set students the challenge of using natural resources to create a visual representation of a Dhudhuroa word given on a card. The singing station encouraged students to sing the ‘Cuddly Bawiaka (Koala)’ song, that included a number of Dhudhuroa words. This song must have connected with the surrounds as we were fortunate enough to have a live ‘mascot’ bawiaka climbing in the trees in the school grounds during the morning! The art station provided an opportunity for students to work together and produce a canvas to take back to each school. The traditional games station encouraged students to practise jumping like a yawarro (kangaroo) in relay races and to fly like a nianyo (black cockatoo) during an octopus game.
Larissa Hume, Vaso Elefsiniotis, Jess Mobourne, Bill Forshaw, Mara Lovett-Murray, Nathan Lovett-Murray. Front L-R: Karmen Corscadden, Joanne Christine, Mica Corscadden, Katrina Ciolli, Kylie Giltrap
The day was supported by Dhudhuroa people Nathan Lovett-Murray, Mara Lovett-Murray and Larissa Hume. There were also contributions from the regional Koorie Education Support Officer (KESO) team, Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI), University of Melbourne Research Unit for Indigenous Language, Thamarrurr Youth Indigenous Corporation, School Staff and the Dhudhuroa Language teachers who coordinated the day, Mica Corscadden, Kylie Giltrap and Katrina Ciolli.
The weather was glorious and contributed to the enjoyment of the day. Overall, the Dhudhuroa language day was a huge success. It was a day that celebrated and showcased the enthusiasm and achievements of the ongoing and growing language revival efforts for Dhudhuroa.
Many thanks to all involved.
This day was supported by a grant from the University of Melbourne Indigenous Knowledge Institute.