Wai, Kulila! Hey, Listen Up!

You are invited to experience an exciting world first – an online window into Pitjantjatjara language and culture!

This online learning site is a legacy aspect of the art-language project Ngapartji Ngapartji – a long-term, inter-generational language and arts project that was based on Arrernte country in Mparntwe (Alice Springs, Central Australia). The project, coordinated by the award-winning social change arts company Big hART, has comprised an experiential language show and a main stage theatre production. Both performance components have traveled to major Australian cities and arts festivals between 2005-2008, and featured elders and young people from the Pitjantjatjara-speaking community who also participated in the grass-roots community development program.

To understand what lies at the heart of the Ngapartji Ngapartji project check out this short film .

According to the 2005 National Indigenous Languages Survey , the situation of Australia’s indigenous languages is ‘very grave and requires urgent action’ and Australia has been identified as the place with the most rapid and widespread loss of Indigenous languages anywhere in the world over the last one hundred years.

Let's change the story together!

So how does it all work?

Young Pitjantjatjara speakers have built this course from the ground up, with the support of  workshops coordinated by artists and community workers. In the process young people have developed skills in design, multimedia, communication, film and literacy. With the support of their elders, they are sharing their language and culture with you through the Ninti site.

Your journey into Pitjantjatjara culture and language is made through short films or songs that have been produced by community members and artists. Each clip or song is accompanied by a handy list of Pitjantjatjara words with their English meanings, pronunciation guides and guided worksheets (for when you want to get really serious!)

By engaging with the language and cultural material online, you get a basic introduction to Pitjantjatjara and an understanding of some vocabulary and key concepts. But because this isn't your average 'language course', you'll be learning simple words and grammar through personal stories about the lives, country, history and culture of the Pitjantjatjara community.

There is no set time frame for the course - you're free to work totally at your own pace and it's never too late to get involved.

What subscribers have said:

“Can't tell you how much I love the language course and the show is icing on the cake for me. Warm wishes” – Janelle

“As a Victorian Secondary teacher I am inspired by this approach. The website is
great! Kind regards” – Toni

“Thanks for this website. Unlike many websites where you feel like you're 'on the web', Ngapartji takes you to places beyond the computer screen. It helps you get ready to learn the language by putting the learner in a context. I love it! The song for Week One is really effective”. – Mairead

 From the sites launch in 2006 until 2009 subscribers paid to experience this language course and the revenue assisted to the project in its day-to-day operations with the on-the-ground community project. From December 2009 the language and culture website is freely accessible online, as the project winds down it's operations and leaves the site as part of a legacy to the innovative project.

The interest and involvement of the public helped the Ngapartji Ngapartji project address the burning issue of Indigenous language maintenance and preservation – the team worked hard as part of a National strategy to get it on the agenda for government departments and policy makers around Australia. More information about the campaign and how to become directly involved in addressing this issue is available at www.ngapartji.org

Pitjantjatjara dictionaries to accompany the course can be purchased either by contacting enquiries@ngapartji.org or from the IAD Press online store http://shopping.iad.edu.au/store/listCategoriesAndProducts.shop?idCategory=26

Palya! From the Ngapartji Ngapartji team

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The Ngapartji project is ambitious and unique. It relies on the support of enrolled members and donations to keep things running. As more people sign up for the course, come to shows, and generally contribute the more we can advance and expand the scope of the project.

Have a look at what we can achieve with your support.