The Program

Walking Our Songlines with Language is a healing journey of reconnection to language for Coota Girls Survivors, their descendants and the broader First Nations community.

For First Nations peoples, language and culture are intrinsically interwoven. First Nations languages are embedded with ancestral knowledge of culture and Country. For Stolen Generations Survivors and their descendants, past policies of forced removal and assimilation have had a devastating impact on the intergenerational sharing and maintaining of First Nations languages. We invite you on our journey of reconnection, to Walk Our Songlines with Language.

The Flashcards for the Walking Our Songlines with Language was created in partnership with the Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation (CGAC) and 33Creative.

From Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation

“For me, reconnection to my culture and language is my responsibility. Not only for my children, but for myself and my community. As a Survivor of forced removals and institutionalisation, my grandmother Aunty Lorraine Darcy Peeters was punished for speaking language and practicing culture as a child. I imagine the Aborigines Protection Act (1909-1969), which sanctioned the forced removal of any First Nations child at any time for any reason, as a wildfire. Its sole purpose was to eradicate all in its path. However, like the trees, our roots are strong and spiritually connected to this land. We have resisted and continue to thrive after the flames. Reclamation and revitalisation of our Language is an integral part of this regrowth process. This project has been so incredibly healing.”

– Meagan Gerrard (Wailwan and Gamilaroi),
Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation, Project and Communications Manager

Source: Photos provided by Department of Aboriginal Affairs NSW (cootagirls.org.au)

The History

In 1912, the Cootamundra Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls (1912-1969) was established on Wiradjuri Land as a training institution for First Nations girls who had been forcibly removed from their families and communities under the Aborigines Protection Act (1909-1969). Once isolated far away from family and community, First Nations girls (as young as 2 years old) were brainwashed and trained to become domestic servants/slaves in wealthy non-First Nations households.

As children, Coota Girls Survivors experienced a process of forced assimilation, systematic racial discrimination designed to remove their First Nations identity and connection to kin, Country and culture. This included facing severe punishment for speaking their first languages or practicing culture in any way.

For First Nations peoples, language and culture are intrinsically linked. First Nations languages are embedded with knowledge of culture, Country, and ancestors. Past policies of forced removal and assimilation have had a devastating impact on the intergenerational sharing and maintaining of First Nations languages.

Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation (CGAC) was founded in 2013 by a courageous group of Coota Girls Survivors. CGAC aims to support Coota Girls Survivors and their descendants to heal from the associated impacts of forced removal and assimilation. 

In 2021, CGAC launched Walking Our Songlines with Language Program which aims to deliver range of projects focused on reconnecting Coota Girls Survivors and their descendants with their own language.

The Flashcards

You have 24 words to learn in language. Each card has an illustration, the word in English and language translations with phonetic breakdown. Breaking down each word into sound syllables will help you pronounce the new words. For example, in Wiradyuri, Emu is dinawan – pronounced din-uh-one.

You have two of each card and they are divided into categories – People (green), Animals (yellow), Country (blue). This is to help you play the games on the instructions and to create your own games!

Artist Spotlight: Joanne Cassady

As a professional artist, Joanne uses her skills as a means of education for cultural awareness. Joanne’s
artwork telling the story of the girls from the 12 different language groups journeying to Coota Girls Home is close to her heart, with her maternal connections to Coota Girls. Joanne hopes that all descendants can deepen their connection to culture and language through these resources.

“As a winner of the 2017 National NAIDOC poster competition for the theme “Our Languages Matter” and as a descendant of Coota Girls and the Stolen Generations, I was honoured to create an artwork representing the language project. As Aboriginal people and having what was taken from our families, I am truly grateful for our Elders who were able to keep our (Wiradjuri) language alive. I’m grateful we are able to pass this on to the next generation. Taking back what was stolen. Our Voice.”

Joanne Cassady (Wiradjuri), Balgarra Designs, Founder & Artist

Our Purpose

Culture is Life is an Aboriginal-led Not-For-Profit organisation. We believe that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people have the right to thrive and flourish; strong in knowing who they are, where they come from and who they are connected to.

All our efforts deepen young people’s experiences of culture as protection through thoughtfully designed, simple to access and easy to use policies, projects, resources and campaigns.

We join together with others to create meaningful lives for all our young people with a special emphasis on those experiencing vulnerability and who are at risk of self-harm and suicide.

From 33Creative

We are very proud to have worked on such a significant project. Thank you to Culture is Life and Coota Girls for selecting us to work with you on this. We hope to continue to revitalise language and culture, and celebrate our people through this project and more.

– Mayrah Sonter (Wiradyuri), 33Creative, Director

Acknowledgement

Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation acknowledges and deeply appreciates the support of the many First Nations Language Speakers and Knowledge Holders who have contributed to the creation of these resources. We express gratitude for giving our Stolen Generations Coota Girls Survivors and descendants and the broader First Nations community the opportunity to reconnect with Language.

Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation recognises and respects Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights and acknowledges that all ICIP rights in this resource belong with those First Nations Language Speakers and Knowledge Holders, communities and Language Groups who have shown their support for Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation to include their ICIP in this resource.

We acknowledge the many variations in the spelling, pronunciation and use. Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation does not claim that the language included in these resources represents the only way and we respect and acknowledge that Language Knowledge may differ for each speaker.


Sign up for our newsletter

Be the first to know about new projects and the latest from us.
We care about your data in our privacy policy.
Meet Koby Sellings, one of our 2024 Fellows! Koby is a proud Gunai Kurnai man who is passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and advocacy. ✊🏽

This is evident through his past and current commitments with Yalari, headspace National and Melbourne Indigenous Transition School. Koby was also the Community Engagement Officer at the @koorieyouthcouncil, which saw him lead the 2023 Koorie Youth Summit, as well as the Blackouts in Mildura and Warrnambool. 💛

Currently, he works at Yalari and has been working in the leadership and wellbeing space to help in the personal development of Yalari's students and alumni. 🧘🏽‍♂️
The 2024 Fullaship in Gimuy (Cairns) wearing their deadly creations made in the “Clay Speaks” workshop hosted by @ttpopp_ 🎨 

Thank you to the deadly tidda @taliciaminniecon for yarning with the young mob and sharing her story, talking about healing and her journey with social entrepreneurship. 💛 

As tidda said, this is why we do what we do - for the next generation, our children, our community and our connection to culture. ✨

📸 @ttpopp_
Meet Bri Apma Hayes, one of our deadly 2024 Fellows! 👋🏽 Bri is a proud Arrernte woman, born and raised on Waddawurrung country in Geelong. She is an artist who grew up learning stories and techniques from her father which she now uses to connect with other people and share culture, history and people's journeys. 🎨

Bri is passionate about education and is currently Co-Chair for her Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group to help all young mob feel safe and heard in education environments. ✊🏽
Arrernte and Kalkadoon filmmaker, Rachel Perkins, has been awarded the Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award at the Screen Music Awards in Naarm (Melbourne). 🏆

“Her stories, whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous, have become woven into the fabric of our national story. 🎬

They challenge us to look deeper, to understand more fully and to walk in the shoes of those whose experiences may be different from our own.” - Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS, which present the Screen Music Awards. 🙌🏽
⁠
📱 Read the full story via @nitv_au
Meet Jeremy Last, one of our 2024 Fellows! Jeremy is a proud Ngaanyatjarra & Pitjantjatjara man studying a double bachelor's degree in International Relations and Arts majoring in Indigenous Knowledges & Society at the University of Adelaide. 👨🏽‍🎓

Jeremy is passionate about community development and advocating for mob. On a personal level Jeremy enjoys playing Australian Rules Football, trail running, spending time with my family and friends and also volunteering at a youth group. 🏃🏽
The 2024 Fullaship mob have landed in Gimuy (Cairns) on Yidinji & Yirrganydji Country for their second intensive ✈️

Special thanks to Traditional Owner, Jiritju Fourmile, for the warm Welcome and showing us around this beautiful Country. 🍃
Meet Raychelle (RayRay) Mckenzie from the 2024 Fullaship Program! RayRay is an Anbarra, Nakara young person with ties to Luritja and Yamatji mobs, passionate about grassroots initiatives and community empowerment. As an MC, rapper, and poet, they express stories of resilience and disparities through music and creativity. 🎤

As part of their Fullaship project to develop as an artist, RayRay has recently performed with Kobie Dee on his Northern Territory Tour and is also passionate about addressing Rheumatic Heart Disease and Streptococcus A, sharing insights from their lived experience and the effects it has on families and their community. 🫂
Today, October 10, marks #WorldMentalHealthDay 🌏 This is a gentle reminder that it's ok to not be ok. Take care of yourself, your mob and your Country. 🫂 It's all connected. 🫶🏽 #MentalHealthMatters

Artwork via @coffinbirth
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
There has been a problem with your Instagram Feed.