The Mowanjum Community recently celebrated the release of a new book Jirigi Jinda Ardangarri, Burnarri Anja, Diigu Aagala – Birds which catalogues 195 birds in three Indigenous languages— Ungarinyin/Ngarinyin, Worrorra and Wunambal Gaambera.
“Jirigi Jinda Ardangarri, Burnarri Anja, Diigu Aagala – Birds, is a very significant publication, as it is the first book to include all of three languages of the Mowanjum Community,” says Maree Klesch, Project Manager, Mowanjum Endangered Languages Project, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education.
“The successful collaboration of all participants celebrates the Batchelor Institute Both-ways practices that are critical to the revival of Aboriginal languages and takes a small step forward to righting the wrongs of the past, and ensuring that future generations of Ungarinyin/Ngarinyin, Worrorra and Wunambal Gaambera children have access to their ancestral heritage. In three language groups: Ungarinyin/Ngarinyin, Worrorra and Wunambal Gaambera.”
Developed by Mowanjum Community (located 10km south east of Derby in the Kimberley region of Western Australia), in partnership with Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education with the assistance of Commonwealth funding, the book features stunning colour photographs alongside the Indigenous, common English and scientific names. It also includes the bird’s moiety for each language group and information about the bird’s significance to local people ensuring that the knowledge is preserved for the next generation. Three large format posters—one for each language group—were also developed as part of the project.
Jirigi Jinda Ardangarri, Burnarri Anja, Diigu Aagala – Birds and the three language posters are available from Batchelor Institute Press, or phone 08 8939 7352.
Jirigi Jinda Ardangarri, Burnarri Anja, Diigu Aagala – Birds book
Diigu aagala, Wunambal Gaambara – Bird poster