Word Up

Phil Sullivan is our language legend this month. Phil was an Aboriginal heritage offer with the National Parks and Wildlife service for almost three decades. And he’s still doing repatriation and language revitalisation work in his community of Bourke, on Ngemba land.  Today, Phil is sharing a Ngemba word he might use to welcome you to his Country.

Join Desert Stars frontman Jay Minning in Tjunjunjana on Spinifex Country for the final time. Today, Jay is sharing a Pitjantjatjara word with a dual meaning.

Jay Minning is the frontman of the country's most remote rock band - the Desert Stars.  Today, he shares a Pitjantjatjara word you might use when things don't go to plan. 

This week, language legend Jay Minning shares a Pitjantjatjara word that helps keep him grounded.

Jay Minning isn’t just the lead singer of Desert Stars, he’s also a passionate advocate of his language — Pitjantjara. For Word Up, Jay takes you to his Country and shares a word that makes him feel good. 

Che Kelly is a Miriwoong man and he’s been Word Up's language legend for the past month, sharing his knowledge and his passion for his language. But what you probably don’t know about Che is that he’s got spectacular hair. So that’s Mirriwoong word he’s sharing this week: 'hair'. 

Che is our language legend on Awaye this month. He’s been learning and teaching Miriwoong at his local language centre in Kununurra - Mirima Dawang Woorlab-Gerring. This week, Che explains why he loves rainbows.

Che Kelly is our language legend this month. He's learning and teaching Miriwoong at Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring - the —local language centre in Kununurra. Last week, Che asked you to look up to the skies. This week, he wants you to look straight down at your feet.

Che Kelly in Kununarra is our language legend this month. He's learning and teaching Mirriwong at his local language centre Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Last week, Che told you a little about his nan and shared the Miriwoong word that means ‘to look around’. Now he’s sharing a different Miriwoong word: one that’ll lift your eyes to the skies.

Chey Kelly is a Mirriwong man from Kununarra in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. There he's been learning and teaching his language, as part of a language nest at Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring. For Word Up this week, Chey introduces you to his Country and shares a commonly used word.

Tamara Pearson is a choreographer, artist and mentor from Hope Vale in far north Queensland. For the past three weeks, she’s shared Guugu Yimithirr words we can imagine as three legs of a stool. Today, she explains how her previous words bama, guugu and bubu relate to each other, as well as share a word that means ‘to reciprocate’.

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'.