Guardians of Language and Country
Guardians of Language and Country
Podcast Description
Guardians of Language and Country is a series exploring how emerging technologies, grounded in a deep connection to Country, are helping to preserve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Join host Donnie Johannessen and producer Alden Lyall on a journey through Far North Queensland as they speak with Mamu, Gunggandj, Kuku Yalanji, and Western Kuku Yalanji elders and rangers, sharing stories of language, land, and community. Celebrate these custodians of culture, discover histories new and old, and learn a few new words along the way.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast centers around the intersection of emerging technologies and traditional languages, exploring themes such as intergenerational knowledge, community engagement, and cultural preservation. Episodes feature topics like the integration of virtual reality for language learning on Western Yalanji Country, school programs for language revival in Gunggandji, and breath-to-breath teaching methods on Kuku Yalanji Country.
Guardians of Language and Country is a series exploring how emerging technologies, grounded in a deep connection to Country, are helping to preserve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Join host Donnie Johannessen and producer Alden Lyall on a journey through Far North Queensland as they speak with Mamu, Gunggandj, Kuku Yalanji, and Western Kuku Yalanji elders and rangers, sharing stories of language, land, and community. Celebrate these custodians of culture, discover histories new and old, and learn a few new words along the way.
In this final episode of Guardians of Language and Country, we journey to Western Yalanji Country. Set against the rugged beauty of Far North Queensland’s rivers and freshwater creeks, this episode explores how Western Yalanji people are preserving their language—through teaching on Country, sharing intergenerational knowledge, and embracing new technologies. Brad Grogan from Western Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation shares plans for a language app and a virtual reality project that will allow connection to Country in the digital space. Rangers Lindsay Gore and Nisha Williams offer insights into everyday language use and the vast resource of cultural knowledge elders hold. From snakes interrupting interviews to heartfelt reflections on legacy and learning, this episode is a powerful reminder that language is more than words—it’s identity, connection, and a way home.
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