A new cadetship in Hope Vale is combining learning from local Guugu Yimithirr speakers with formal First Nations language study.
Selina Bowen grew up hearing Guugu Yimithirr at home.
Her grandfather spoke the language fluently, her parents knew some and Selina developed much of her own language through church, where Guugu Yimithirr hymns helped her learn pronunciation and meaning.
But across the generations, she has also seen English become more dominant.
Now, as the first Language Cadet with Pama Language Centre, Selina wants to help turn that shift around.
“I don’t want the language to die. For me, it’s about my children as well and making sure the language stays alive in our community,” Selina said.
“Language is part of your identity. I want to become fluent and use what I learn to help others and help deliver the language in the community.”
The new cadetship is being delivered through a partnership between Pama Language Centre and Hopevale Congress Aboriginal Corporation.
Over the next two years, Selina will work alongside Pama Language Centre’s language team while undertaking formal First Nations language training through Charles Darwin University.
For Selina, the opportunity comes at an important time. She said there weren’t as many older speakers and changes within the community meant language was not always being passed from one generation to the next in the same way it once was.
She wants future generations to be able to move confidently between Guugu Yimithirr and English.
“I think having that language brings pride, strength and respect,” Selina said. “It’s knowing your identity and your links to your community. Language gives us that common bond.”
The cadetship builds on years of Guugu Yimithirr language work in Hope Vale, where Pama Language Centre has worked with local language experts to develop lesson materials, books, songs, online learning resources and language documentation.
Pama Language Centre General Manager Karin Calley said the next step was building the skills of local people to continue and lead that work.
“For language to remain strong, the knowledge and skills to teach, document and develop it need to live within the community,” Karin said.
“This cadetship gives Selina the opportunity to learn directly from Guugu Yimithirr speakers and language experts in Hope Vale while developing formal skills she can put into practice straight away.
“The long-term goal is for local people to have the skills and opportunities to lead this work and pass both the language and that knowledge on to the next generation.”
Selina will undertake her university study part-time over two years, building practical skills in First Nations language revitalisation, maintenance, learning and teaching.
Those skills will be applied through her work with Pama Language Centre and alongside local speakers and language experts in Hope Vale.
For Selina, though, the motivation is simpler.
“I want to make sure it lives in my community,” she said.
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