Indigenous languages are those languages native to communities and are spoken by the people of the communities. Some of these languages are extinct but there are many stories of local people working to turn around further language loss.
With these considerations, the United Nations proclaimed 2022–2032 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. In the Oceanic region sustained effort by indigenous and non-indigenous people, governments and nongovernment organisations to maintain and revitalise indigenous languages are ongoing.
In this seminar from the International Development Oceania Committee (an affiliate of the International Literacy Association), four stories from the Oceanic region are presented to highlight this work. Insights into the preservation and revitalisation of indigenous languages are provided from presenters in Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Three live presentations and a video (provided before the seminar) will be followed by a discussion with the panel of presenters. This seminar provides an opportunity to join with other people across the globe to hear about the innovative and unique ways that indigenous languages are being promoted in the region.
SPEAKERS
Te Waipounamu Teinakore—The revitalisation of te reo Māori.
Apolonia Tamata—Revitalising the Fijian language - using information texts created by teachers, for students, using their indigenous language
Carol Abiri and Katina Zammit—Translanguaging: Connecting to meaning of English texts in Year 4.
Janet Armitage —Anangu practices of literacy
