Harnessing the tools of the 21st Century to save the culture of our ancestors.
Pama Language Centre was established in 2015. Our story reaches back to the first Cape York Land Summit in 1990.
2011 – 2015
2016
2016 - Linguist Xavier Barker joins Pama Language Centre as Ancestral Language Facilitator with Injinoo Ikya and Mpakwithi NPA Ancestral Language Teams
2016 - Linguist Louise Ashmore joins Pama Language Centre as Ancestral Language Facilitator with Wik-Alken/ Ngatharr and Wik-Ngathan Ancestral Language Teams
2016 - Injinoo Ikya Hymns CD recorded
July 2016 - First Painted Stories Workshop Aurukun
November 2016 - First meeting of the Pama Language Centre Committee & Languages Strategy Workshop
Linguist Sophie Rendina Joins Pama Language Centre as Ancestral Language Facilitator for Olkola Revitalisation Project in collaboration with Olkola Corporation
December 2016 - Cape York Peninsula Languages Survey begins
December 2016 - First Intergenerational Transmission Choir workshop in collaboration with NPA State College
December 2016 – Hope Vale School end of year presentation in Guugu Yimidhirr
2017
March 2017 - Pama Language Centre Ancestral Language Teams present at ICLDC5 in Hawaii
March 2017 - Mpakwithi Story book workshop
May 2017 - Online Guugu Yimidhirr lessons with Shannon Bowe begin
June 2017 – NAATI accreditation of Wik-Mungkan Translator – Interpreters
July 2017 – Songs on Country workshop Hope Vale
September 2017 – Songs on Country recording workshop Canberra
October 2017 – Second Meeting of the Pama Language Centre Committee in Cairns
October 2017 – Pama Language Centre presentation at Puliima
October 2017 – Launch of Pama Languages Press
October 2017 – Southern Kaantju language resource workshop with Jenny Creek
November 2017 – First Songs on Country workshop at Aurukun
November 2017 – Hope Vale School end of year concert in Guugu Yimidhirr
Committee Members: Lillian Bowen, Irene Hammett, Sandra Sebasio, Meun Lifu, Vera Koomeeta, Lois Toikalkin, Jean Walmbeng, Victoria Kennedy, Agnes Mark, Susan Kennedy, Caden Pearson, Shannon Bowe, Jennifer Creek. Ancestral Language Facilitators: Xavier Barker, Karin Calley, Jan Goetesson, David Osgarby, Joshua McHugh
INJINOO IKYA
Language Champions
WIK-MUNGKAN, WIK-ALKEN,
WIK-NGATHAN
Language Champions
GUUGU YIMIDHIRR
Language Champions
MPAKWITHI
Language Champions Agnes Mark, Victoria Kennedy, Susan Kennedy
INJINOO IKYA
Language Champions Roy McDonnell, Sandra Sebassio, Meun Lifu
WIK-MUNGKAN, KUGU UWANH,
WIK-ALKEN
Language Experts Ada Woolla, Mavis Ngallametta, Vera Koomeeta
WIK-NGATHAN
Elders Nelson Wolmby & Peter Peemugina
WIK ALKEN
Language Experts Louis Toikalkin, Vera Koomeeta, Jean Walmbeng
GUUGU YIMIDHIRR
Language Champions Priscilla Gibson & Shirley Costello
PEARL WALMBENG
Wik-Alken Elder
JENNY CREEK
Southern Kaantju Language Expert
LILLIAN BOWEN
Guugu Yimidhirr teacher and author.
IRENE HAMMETT
Guugu Yimidhirr teacher and author.
HERBERT YUNKAPORTA
Accredited Wik-Mungkan Interpreter
DELYS YUNKAPORTA
Accredited Wik-Mungkan Interpreter
PHYLIS YUNKAPORTA
Accredited Wik-Mungkan Interpreter
ALBERTA HORNSBY
Guugu Yimidhirr teacher
AGNES MARK
Mpakwithi Author and Artist
SUSAN KENNEDY
Mpakwithi Author and Artist
VICTORIA KENNEDY
Mpakwithi Author and Artist
SHANNON BOWE
Guugu Yimidhirr Student and Language Champion
JAN GOETESSON
RLS Policy Adviser, Linguist Ancestral Language Facilitator
KARIN CALLEY
General Manager Ancestral Language Facilitator
XAVIER BARKER
Linguist Ancestral Language Facilitator
JOSHUA MCHUGH
Composer Ancestral Language Facilitator
SOPHIE RENDINA
Linguist Ancestral Language Facilitator
SASKIA HOLLOWAY
Volunteer Ancestral Language Facilitator
HAROLD LUDWICK
Guugu Yimidhirr Project Facilitator
Pama Language Centre is an initiative of the Cape York Institute. We are auspiced by Cape York Partnership and supported by grants from the Department of Communications and the Arts
Pama Language Centre also gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our private and philanthropic donors.
Songs on Country and Singing Back Our Languages projects are delivered in partnership with Hope Vale Primary School, NPA State College and Aurukun State School
The Olkola Recording and Revitalisation Project is a collaboration with Olkola Corporation
Content for Thirrimbithi robot language tutors for classrooms and homes is under development in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language
Travel assistance for our language teams to attend workshops and special events is kindly donated by Sky Trans