BELATED ANNIVERSARY FOR KUNUNURRA LANGUAGE CENTRE

BY CONRAD MACLEAN

Last month, local schoolchildren worked with Elders to paint the courtyard at Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language Centre. Credit: Facebook, Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language Centre.

An Indigenous language centre in the Kimberley will hold a belated anniversary today to celebrate more than 30 years of operation. 

Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language Centre in Kununurra planned to hold its 30th anniversary two years ago, but was delayed by Covid. 

The organisation works to preserve the critically endangered Miriwoong language by promoting teaching programs in schools and publishing in the language. 

Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language Centre Senior Linguist Knut Olawsky said he’s optimistic the organisation’s programs can preserve the language because many young people are learning it. 

“It is a critically endangered language, and obviously the lack of fluent speakers is our biggest issue,” he said.

“At the same time, we feel we have reason to be optimistic, because we have so many new learners and we keep growing. That is the reason for optimism.”