Visualising Yanyuwa Narratives
Making the oral visual: Visualising Yanyuwa narratives and the possibilities of cross generational transfer of knowledge
In 1997 there were approximately 270 speaker of the Yanyuwa language, a language spoken in the south west Gulf of Carpentaria. Today there are less than ten people who can speak this language and who continue to use it on a daily basis as their first language of communication. Like many other Indigenous languages in Australia Yanyuwa is in crisis, a language such as Yanyuwa is a repository of a very specialised cultural and life experience.
This research has roots that extend back 30 years when the Dr John Bradley, began documenting Yanyuwa language and culture, working with the old people and the present group of old people in creating both a Yanyuwa encyclopaedic dictionary and a Yanyuwa atlas of their country. While both documents serve as important reference points for older Yanyuwa people the children and adolescents are growing up knowing little about the Law of their land.
In conjunction with anthropologist Dr Amanda Kearney of the University of New South Wales and talented IT professionals Tom Chandler, Brent McKee and Chandara Ung of the Berwick Campus of Monash University research has begun to see if animation can hold a key that will allow for cross cultural communication between the older Yanyuwa people and their children, grandchildren and great children. At the core of this research is an investigation as to whether digital technology can assist in the education, identity and self esteem of youth. Presently there are five Yanyuwa dreaming stories completed and one partial song line. Work continues on both animation of a complete ceremonial song line and research with the community has begun in regards to the effectiveness of digital technology as a conveyer of Yanyuwa Law and identity.
