A joint project between the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and the Department of Education is to support up to 28 initiatives to promote, preserve and revitalise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and dialects.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Craig Crawford encouraged Queenslanders to apply for a share in the $200,000 Indigenous Languages Grants 2020.
“Grants of up to $25,000 will support local, regional and State-wide initiatives which bring together schools, local groups and wider communities with language speakers, Elders and Traditional Owners to help languages live on,” Mr Crawford said.
“Queensland is home to the nation’s second largest population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and our State is enriched by the languages, cultures and diversity of First Nations people.”
He said the Government was reframing the relationship with First Nations people by celebrating and acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, cultures and knowledge as part of truth-telling, healing and reconciliation.
“Language is fundamental to identity and wellbeing, and encouraging all Queenslanders to respect, embrace and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language and culture is a positive step towards local thriving communities,” Mr Crawford said.
“Given this year’s international theme is focused on the resilience of Indigenous peoples, we understand how crucial the survival and maintenance of Indigenous languages is to building resilience of First Nations Queenslanders.”
Minister for Education, Grace Grace encouraged schools to apply for the grants.
“Last year’s Language Grants Program funded some great initiatives across our schools, and I look forward to seeing even more schools throwing their hats into the ring this year,” Ms Grace said.
