The Australian launch of the UNESCO International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022–2032 was held at PULiiMA Indigenous Languages and Technology Conference on Wednesday 23 August 2023.
PULiiMA
The PULiiMA Indigenous Languages and Technology Conference is the largest Indigenous language conference in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a biennial event that brings people together to explore community-based Indigenous language projects, products and equipment. PULiiMA is the only language and technology conference gathering developed by Indigenous people, for Indigenous people, and attracts specialist organisations and expert individuals throughout Australia and from around the world.
Over 1000 delegates attended the 2023 PULiiMA conference which was held from Tuesday 22 August to Friday 25 August 2023 on Larrakia Country at the Darwin Convention Centre.
Launch Event
As part of the PULiiMA program, the launch event on Wednesday 23 August 2023 included speeches and panels sessions to introduce the International Decade of Indigenous Languages and speak on the importance of language, accompanied by performances from the Red Flag Dancers, TSI Dancers, Nicole Smede, Mitch Tambo and the Tiwi Singers.
The Hon Minister Burke MP, Minister for the Arts, gave the keynote address and spoke on the intrinsic connections between language, culture, community and place, and the importance of protecting and revitalising Indigenous languages.
The launch event also included a national and international panel where panellists from Canada, Hawai'i, the United States of America, New Zealand, Mexico and the Torres Strait discussed language work happening across the world.
The International Decade for Indigenous Languages Directions Group also held a panel session to introduce and release Voices of Country—Australia's Action Plan for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022–2032, which was co-authored by the Australian Government and the Directions Group. More information on Voices of Country can be found here: Voices of Country: Australia's National Action Plan for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages | Office for the Arts.
Launch event video
The event was live streamed and the video can be found below.
Time stamps are as follows:
- 00:00—Yidaki performance
- 1:15—Daryn McKenny introduction
- 4:12—MC's introduction
- 9:35—Aunty Bilawara's Welcome to Country
- 15:58—Red Flag Dancers
- 22:30—Torres Strait Islander Dancers
- 28:35—MC's detailed agenda
- 31:12—The Hon Minister Tony Burke MP Keynote Address
- 37:56—Nicole Smede musical performance
- 44:50—Ambassador for First Nations People Justin Mohamed address
- 49:41—Forging Common Grounds—International Panel
- 1:54:57—Gawura Wanambi address
- 2:00:56—Directions Group panel
- 2:36:55—Mitch Tambo interview
- 2:49:42—William Tilmouth interview
- 3:03:24—Tiwi Singers performance
- 3:12:30—Close
