Our Story
Our collective vision is that our shared Language of our Countries and People is a living Language, valued and visible in the wider community. Our shared Language has been bubaliyn (sleeping) as a consequence of the cultural genocide experienced by our People through colonisation. It is our collective, cultural and sovereign right to learn, speak, share and teach our Language.
Djuyalgu Wakulda seeks to empower our community through Language. It is a Northern Birrbay Language governance group formalised in 2020 in partnership with Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative. Djuyalgu Wakulda aims to grow the Gathang Language through a number of Language revitalisation strategies in the geographical areas of the greater Port Macquarie, Wauchope and Laurieton catchments.
The working group consists of members of the Gathang Language community with connections to the Northern Birrbay region through Language and who are passionate about revitalising Gathang. There is an ongoing need for leadership and resource development in the Language revitalisation space and Djuyalgu Wakulda aims to be but one space, of many, that fosters and supports this need in Gathang revitalisation work.
The artwork on the Djuyalgu Wakulda website was commissioned via a blind judging competition held in 2021. The winner, a 26 year old Birrbay and Warrimay artist, Kate Fuller. This artwork is titled “Djirangga Guyinggubaga, On the Wings of Birds”
“The trees recall the ancient voices of our ancestors, they are carried on the wings of the birds and in the hearts of our Elders ~ together we can share the Language of our country as one across lands and waters.”
- Kate Fuller