Word Up

Tamara Pearson is a choreographer and mentor from Hope Vale in far north Queensland, and our language legend this month. For the past couple of weeks, she’s been sharing Guugu Yimithirr words that connect to each other: the words for people and language. Today, she’s sharing her third word – a word meaning ‘land’.

Tamara Pearson is an artist, choreographer and mentor from Hope Vale on Guugu Yimithirr Country in far north Queensland.  She explains how she uses dance to teach language, and why it’s important to tell stories through movement. 

Tamara Pearson is an artist, choreographer and mentor from Hope Vale on Guugu Yimithirr Country in far north Queensland. As well as running a dance company, Sacred Creations Dance, Tamara has been working with the local language centre to keep Guugu Yimidhirr language strong. Today, she’s sharing the word for ‘people’.

Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs is an educator, a writer and an important voice for Yolngu in north-east Arnhem Land. She's sharing a word she likes to teach her students at Yirrkala School.

Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs is an educator, a writer and an important voice for Yolngu in north-east Arnhem Land. Merrki has chosen a word that means 'two waters coming together'. For her, the word holds a deeper meaning. 

You'll head to Yirrkala in north east Arnhem Land with Merrki Gunabarr-Stubbs. This week, she shares a Yolngu Matha word that's like a gift.

Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs is an educator, a writer and an important voice for Yolngu in north-east Arnhem Land. For Word Up, Merrki shares a word with a motivating message.

Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs is an educator, a writer and an important voice for Yolngu in north-east Arnhem Land. For Word Up Merrki takes has chosen a word that literally means footprint in Yolngu Matha but it explains the connection Yolngu have to their Country.

This week Wimiya Woodley shares the Yindjibarndi word for ‘country’.

Wimiya Woodley shares the Yindjibarndi word for his totem - the echidna. 

Yindjibarndi actor and dancer Wimiya Woodley is our language champion this month. This week, Wimiya is sharing the name of an important Elder from his community.

Yindjibarndi Country is in the Pilbara region of Western Austrlia. Dancer and actor Wimiya Woodley is a Yindjibarndi man and our language champion for November. To kick things off, Wimiya shares a word connected to the Yindjibardi concept of sharing.

ICTV journalist and translator Damien Williams shares a Western Arrernte word with a German influence.

Western Arrernte man Damien Williams is an ICTV journalist and language worker.  This week, he shares where he lives, and the western Arrernte word for 'home'.

Reporter and translator Damien Williams shares a very important western Arrernte word — 'water'.

Arrernte man Damien Williams is a journalist and language worker at Indigenous Community Television. In his role at ICTV, Damien uses his language skills to bring the news of the day to his community. This month Damien will share his language skills and knowledge with Word Up.

Trinity Clarke shares an eastern Kuku Yalanji word that means 'leaf'.

Trinity Clarke shares a word from the eastern dialect of Kuku Yalanji that means ‘heart sore’.

Trinity Clarke shares a word that means 'your spirit, your essence' as well as 'to like' and 'to love' in the eastern dialect of Kuku Yalanji.

This week Trinity Clarke shares a word that means 'to know', 'to teach' and 'to learn' in the eastern dialect of Kuku Yalanji.

Trinity Clarke is a Young Language Chamption with First Languages Australia, and Word Up''s language legend this month. This week she explains that the Kuku Yalanji word that means 'to speak', or 'language of a place' is shared across several neighbouring language groups.

Plant knowledge holder, artist and health worker David Doyle shares the Barkindji name for quandong.

Barkindji plant knowledge holder, artist and health worker David Doyle shares a word that means 'many waters'.

David Doyle is a plant knowledge holder, an artist and a health worker living in Broken Hill, and this week we head back to Barkindji Country to learn the word for a very special person.

David Doyle is a  Barkindji/Malyangapa artist, plant knowledge holder and health worker. For Word Up he shares the Barkindji name for Murray Cod.