Connecting Culture and Language

For Natalee Forder (nee Waterton), learning and teaching the languages of her people is as important to her as breathing.

At the start of the 2023 School Year, Natalee starting teaching Aboriginal language at the Mount Morgan Central State School. In 2022 she taught Gangulu Language at Woorabinda State School.

“I have been learning Gangulu and Ghungabula Aboriginal Languages and speak both languages with some of my family. My father John Waterton is a Ghungabula mari I try to speak Ghungabula as much as I can with him. Then my mother Bino Toby is Gangulu and she remembers words from my Granddad Bill Toby,” Natalee said.

“I studied and attained a Masters of Indigenous Language Education at Sydney University, NSW in 2022. From studying the MILE’s course I’ve learnt to understand the language documents written by linguist in the 1990’s and listening to old audio files from 1970’s,” she said.

“I learned a lot about the unique Aboriginal phonetic sounds and writing a language that was never written. The other unique Aboriginal language qualities included the sentence structures the word formation and Aboriginal word synonym, there are a few words that mean the same. For example ‘gabu pronounced gah-boo’ and ‘uwa pronounced oo-wah’ means laters as in ‘see you later’. In Gangulu lessons we use

‘gabu’ for good bye.

Natalee studied to be a teacher at Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory.

“While I was studying I was also employed as the Indigenous Student Support Worker at St Josephs College, Katherine,” she said.

Natalee was fortunate to obtain a scholarship with the Catholic Education Office, Northern Territory to study a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning.

Following this she went on many adventures teaching in schools across Northern Territory Remote communities.

“While teaching in Northern Territory schools, I became fascinated with how every person spoke and understood each other in Yolngu Matha.

“Their culture was everyday life routines and the children had responsibilities in their family. The people were so helpful to teach me Yolngu language and their cultural ways that made me feel Yolngu (apart of their tribe).

“Because of my teaching contracts, I was able to venture to other amazing places and learn other Aboriginal languages.

“Once I came back to Queensland, I was given a Gangulu dictionary and then took the opportunity

Continued on Page 11 to enrol at the Sydney University to learn how to understand the Gangulu Language.

Natalee’s connections with Mount Morgan are strong.

“I was born in the original hospital here in Mount Morgan and then my parents moved to Rockhampton for mum Bino studied at university and my father John worked on the railway.

“My parents met here at the Mount Morgan High School. Mum told stories of how her mob walked to the Catholic school everyday over the old swinging bridge from Red Hill.

“When I was young we came up to Aunty Heather’s house for family gatherings and stayed at Aunty Gloria’s place with all my cousins.

“During those days my cousins and I would go down to the little creeks to catch crawchies then swim down the dam on hot days. Family picnics at the Dam and the creek at Dululu were my favourite memories,” she said.

Most Aboriginal languages on the east coast of Australia are considered endangered as a result of the colonisation of Australia. Due to the displacement, forced assimilation, and other effects of colonisation, many of these languages have been lost or are now endangered.

Natalee believes there are many reasons why it is important to learn Aboriginal Language:

•Cultural heritage: Language is an important part of our community’s cultural heritage. It carries the stories, values and traditions of Gangulu people and helps connect us to our history and identity.

• Linguistic diversity: Every language is unique and has it own way of expressing ideas and concepts.

• Knowledge preservation: Many endangered language contain knowledge about the environment, medicine, agriculture, and other important fields. Revitalisation means preserving that knowledge for future generations.

• Empowerment: Revitalising a language can empower a community by giving them a sense of pride in their cultural heritage and helping them to assert their identity in a multicultural world.

Natalee believes that teaching Aboriginal languages in schools is important.

“By appreciating Aboriginal cultures and traditions students gain a better understanding of cultural awareness and respect. It can broaden a students perspective and help them develop empathy, respect, and appreciation for linguistic and cultural diversity. Also learning a second language can benefit a child’s cognitive ability to improve memory, problem-solving skills, and creative thinking. In addition, community development by helping to revitalise and preserve the language.

“It can also help to connect Aboriginal students and communities with the wider community and promote understanding and mutual respect,” she said.

“When teaching Aboriginal language I focus on the Aboriginal culture. It adds a deep interconnection for expressing and communicating cultural knowledge, traditions and beliefs.

“We have specific words and cultural ideas such as kinship, land, spirituality and tradition. Storytelling was the primary way for sharing cultural value of oral history and the importance of passing down knowledge from generation to generation.

“I often relate place names to the cultural significance and share the connections between the land, people, and history. Specific words for different features of the land, rivers, mountains and animals displays the cultural importance and sacredness of these places,” she said.

Since teaching Gangulu Aboriginal Language with the students of Mount Morgan Central State School Natalee has seen a positive impact on students’ attitudes by increasing their understanding and appreciation of Mount Morgan Aboriginal culture and stories.

“The students are feeling a sense of connection with Aboriginal people of Mount Morgan by gaining a deeper understanding of the perspectives and experiences.

“The Aboriginal students’ self-esteem improves knowing they can develop a sense of accomplishment and pride in their cultural heritage,” she said.

“I feel privileged to share my Aboriginal Language journey with the people of Mount Morgan and feel that this will be a positive start to our community,” she said.

Natalee is expanding her student base and is now holding lessons at the No. 7 Dam every second Sunday at 2 pm.

To contact Natalee about learning Gangulu, email her on latlee4419@hotmail.com.

Central State School Principal, Mrs Michelle Emery said Gangulu Language was important for the students as it connects them to their culture and encourages them to be proud of their heritage.

“The importance of languages in the school is that extends the connection between school and community,” Mrs Emery said.

“The community and the school have worked hard over the last 2-3 years with Miss Donna Anderson, Miss Lyn Blucher and our local elders and community to ensure that our students have a voice over their learning and that earning is relevant to their natural context,” she said.

“It is very important to teach the languae, our students are our future and their connection and feeling valued in their school improves their attendance and their levels of achievement across the school when they feel engaged in their learning,” Mrs Emery said.