The Paakantyi Nation (also spelt Paakantji /Barkindji) is in western New South Wales from the areas surrounding Bourke to Wentworth and including much of the back country around the Paroo River and Broken Hill.
Language recording and revitalisation efforts have been extensive in this area with Paakantyi language now being taught as a NSW HSC subject.
Storytellers - Andrew Sloane and William Mitchell
Andrew Sloane was born in 1998 and is currently in Year 12 at Menindee Central School, in the far west of NSW. Andrew is of Ngiyampaa and Paakantyi descent. Andrew has presented twenty videos on Paakantyi language and its history for classroom use which are available on YouTube. In 2016 he won the Encouragement Award in the Wudhagaragarra Awards for Aboriginal Education (NSW Department of Education) and was elected vice-captain of Menindee Central School.
The Paakantyi recordings were developed with the mentoring and support of Kayleen Kerwin, Robert Lindsay, and the Menindee Central School.
William Mitchell was born in 1999 and is currently in Year 12 at Menindee Central School. He is of Paakantyi and Ngiyampaa descent. In 2016 he supplied voice recordings for Jonathan Jones’ installation/exhibition, barrangal dyara (‘skin and bones’), in the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. He was elected captain of Menindee Central School.
The current My Weekend with Pop Paakantyi recording features Andrew Sloane.
For Teachers
An online Teacher's Guide accompanies My Weekend with Pop a short illustrated bilingual story. Teachers and students can read the story in English and listen to it in several NSW Aboriginal languages: Dharawal, Gumbaynggirr, Gamilaraay, Paakantyi and Wiradjuri.
The Teacher's guide includes learning activities for teachers to embed in KLA-specific units of work as a way of including Aboriginal perspectives. The activities are designed for Stage 2 and can be adjusted for Stage 1 or Stage 3 learners . The resource list includes print and multi-media materials that are suitable for teachers of Early Stage 1 through to Stage 6.
