Twenty years in the making - Badimaya Dictionary Launch

To have your life-long culture and language valued and respected is something anyone would hope for.

After 20 years, Mr Ollie George and Badimaya people can be proud that finally, their culture and language is being preserved and developed into multiple educational resources.

Initial preservation work was commenced by The Yamaji Language Centre in the early 1990s before being transferred to the Bundiyarra – Irra Wangga Language Centre in 2005.

Since 2012, more than 60 hours of audio and 10 hours of video recordings have been obtained and utilised to produce seven resources including five story books, a photographic calendar and picture book.

This has helped assist with collaboration for the upcoming launch of the Badimaya Dictionary, Badimaya Guwaga wordlist and Alphabet Poster.

Four Badimaya families - the George, Walsh, Fogerty and Clinche families - have provided the majority of the recordings with Mr George taking a lead role. Mr George is one of few remaining fluent Badimaya speakers and is pleased to see what has been developed from the work.

Bundiyarra – Irra Wangga Language Centre Linguist James Bednall said that Mr George is really excited.

“His face and eyes just light up when he sees the productions,” he said.

“It is so dear to him to see his culture and language being preserved for the rest of the world to see, his language is just as important as any other language, he is a happy man.”

The launch of the Badimaya Dictionary, Badimaya Guwaga wordlist and Alphabet Poster will take place on Mr George’s true country, Kirkalocka Station at Mount Magnet.

Mr George was raised at Kirkalocka Station by his Nan and Pop. This is where he was immersed in his culture. He was able to learn and speak his language, was taught to hunt and took part in corroborees with family.

Mr Bednall said: “When community see these publications it gives them a sense of pride. People see photos of themselves, their country and their language in print and it creates excitement as they feel respected and valued.”

The Bundiyarra – Irra Wangga Language Centre and Badimaya Community invite you to join them at Kirkalocka Station on Thursday, 10 April, 2014 from 11.30am – 1.30pm for this historic launch. The launch is a free event and will include a good feed and some entertainment. Free, limited bus transport is available from Bundiyarra in Geraldton. For further enquiries please contact the The Bundiyarra – Irra Wangga Language Centre on (08) 9920 7900.

Publications will be available for purchase at the launch and from the Bundiyarra on-line store: www.bundiyarra.org.au