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UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages

1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019

UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages

Our Indigenous Engagement team,  photographer Joy and Avryl from Exhibitions hit the road earlier this year to meet with Aboriginal Elders and language custodians across the state.

What they learnt and experienced was utterly profound and too important not to share.

To mark UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages and NAIDOC Week 2019,  we're sharing  some incredible stories and images from their journey from Central NSW to the North West Plains. 

Follow the journey on Instagram @statelibrarynsw and #LivingLanguage.

Living language: Aboriginal languages in New South…

A major exhibition opening in July at the Library will celebrate UNESCO’s...

Read Living language: Aboriginal languages in New South Wales
Two women, lit up by projected words.
Exhibition

Living Language: Country, Culture, Community

Saturday 13 July 2019 to Sunday 3 May 2020

Marking the UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages, this exhibition builds on the Library's historical collections with stories of resilience and achievement from communities throughout NSW. 

Read Living Language: Country, Culture, Community
Photograph of the bush

E.M. Curr's Australian Comparative Vocabulary

Curr's Australian Comparative Vocabulary, completed in 1881, is the Library's...

Read E.M. Curr's Australian Comparative Vocabulary
Anaiwan
Armidale

The Anaiwan Language Revival Program

The work of the Anaiwan Language Revival Program, based out of the University...

Read The Anaiwan Language Revival Program
Filming at Yina Nature Reserve. Photo by Joy Lai.
Gumbaynggirr
Nambucca Heads

A night at Nambucca Heads

There are moments that make you realise how much you love your job, and for...

Read A night at Nambucca Heads
Damien with Miklo
Lightning Ridge
Yuwaalaraay
Gamilaraay

Memorable sunsets at Lightning Ridge

Rocky white alien landscapes, mysterious stone circles, the blood red sun and...

Read Memorable sunsets at Lightning Ridge
La Perouse
Botany Bay
Dharawal

Away in Botany Bay

It was a real thrill to explore the natural environment around Botany Bay and...

Read Away in Botany Bay
Group of people standing on a hill at Botany Bay, Sydney.

Portraits of language custodians and Elders

These portraits show the strength, determination and dedication of language...

Read Portraits of language custodians and Elders

Dawes notebook and Patyegarang

The earliest attempt to transcribe and understand the Sydney coastal language. 

Read Dawes notebook and Patyegarang
Melissa Jackson and Dawes notebook

150 year-old Hale notebook returns to Australia 

Hale visited Australia from 1839 to 1840 and chronicled the work of...

Read 150 year-old Hale notebook returns to Australia 
Marika and Damien with Hale notebook

Going where the lingo is...

Our Indigenous Engagement team are midway through a three-week journey across...

Read Going where the lingo is...
Two men and two women representing the Indigenous Engagement Branch smiling and standing in front of green plants.