Learning more about Ngunawal language

By Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain

Yuma (hello in Ngunawal).

Several Radford College staff members recently had the opportunity to participate in a Ngunawal language workshop with Ngunawal custodian, Mr Tyronne Bell.

The workshop was a fantastic opportunity to learn from Tyronne about Ngunawal history and culture (including why historical documents spell Ngunawal with one ‘n’, a practice Tyronne continues). Participants then learnt some greetings and how to give an Acknowledgement of Country in the Ngunawal language, along with the protocols for delivering an Acknowledgement using the knowledge we had been given.

Hearing the Ngunawal language spoken by Tyronne and then by each person in the room, after they had been taught by him, was quite profound. So too was hearing more about the history and people who have lived in the Canberra region for thousands of years.

We also learnt that Canberra is based on a Ngunawal word that means 'meeting place', a beautiful reminder of the gatherings that have taken place for centuries.

We would like to invite Tyronne back to Radford College to deliver another workshop in Term 2. Please email me if you’d like to be part of the next workshop and you are a Radford staff member, parent or caregiver.

To learn more about Tyronne and the work that he does, please visit his website Thunderstone Aboriginal Cultural Services.