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New Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre in West Arnhem region

07 November 2018

A new Aboriginal language centre is now based in Jabiru and Gunbalanya in the Top End.
The Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre is now an incorporated entity and delivering language services for Bininj and learners of Bininj Kunwok languages in the Kakadu, Jabiru, Maningrida and western Arnhem Land region. 
They are funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Indigenous Languages and Arts program with current auspicing by West Arnhem Regional Council. 
The languages they support are known locally as Kundjeyhmi (Jabiru/Kakadu), Kunwinjku (Gunbalanya and outstations), Kuninjku (Maningrida and western outstations), Kune/Mayali (Maningrida and Cadell River) and Kundedjnjenghmi (Arnhem Land plateau outstations). Collectively we refer to all these as ‘Bininj Kunwok’ which means ‘the people’s language’.
At the most recent meeting in Gunbalanya last week, the language centre set goals for their future. 
This is very timely as they work together with the Traditional Owners of the Jabiru region as part of the new future for the town of Jabiru as a tourist and cultural hub and service delivery centre for the region.
The Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre (or BKRLC) will continue their work maintaining, teaching and reviving local Bininj languages in the region where they are spoken. They work on a ground-up approach responding to the language needs of local community organisations and agencies and prioritise Bininj language initiatives and capacity building for Bininj language workers. 
Long-time Kunwinjku language worker Jill Nganjmirra was elected Chairperson of the new centre together with other directors Julie Narndal, Seraine Namundja, Susan O’Sullivan and Murray Garde. Our Field Officer is Andy Peart.
As part of the process of developing the new language centre, the website and resource pages are being updated. Some links are broken at the moment until we transfer the pages to new servers, but you can still access most of our resources at bininjkunwok.org.au. You can also keep up with news at the language centre and contact us on our Facebook. Just search for ‘Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre’ to access news, local language events, photos, videos and related resources.
Bonj (that’s all).