The ''Aboriginal Languages Act 2017'' is a

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

statute that is the first law in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

to recognise the importance of the languages of the first nations people and the history of government decisions to suppress Aboriginal languages in New South Wales. The Act recognises that Aboriginal languages are part of the cultural heritage of New South Wales and Aboriginal people are the custodians of these languages and have the right to control and nurture them. The Act establishes a statutory body to be known as the ''Aboriginal Languages Trust''.

History

Prior to colonisation and settlement there were many languages spoken by the

Aboriginal people Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...

living in what is now known as

. The first comprehensive investigation of Australian languages was conducted by

William Dawes William Dawes Jr. (April 6, 1745 – February 25, 1799) was one of several men who in April 1775 alerted colonial minutemen in Massachusetts of the approach of British army troops prior to the Battles of Lexington and Concord at the outse ...

from 1788 - 1791. In November 2016, the

New South Wales Government The Government of New South Wales, also known as the NSW Government, is the Australian state democratic administrative authority of New South Wales. It is currently held by a coalition of the Liberal Party and the National Party. The Governmen ...

announced that it would be pursuing legislation aimed at protecting

Aboriginal languages Aboriginal language may refer to: * Indigenous language * Australian Aboriginal languages * Taiwanese aboriginal languages * Indigenous languages of the Americas * Aboriginal Malay languages The Malayic languages are a branch of the Malayo-P ...

. The ''Aboriginal Languages Bill 2017'' was introduced into the

NSW Legislative Council The New South Wales Legislative Council, often referred to as the upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of the Australian state of New South Wales. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in th ...

on 11 October 2017 with a traditional

message stick A message stick is a graphic communication device traditionally used by Aboriginal Australians. The objects were carried by messengers over long distances and were used for reinforcing a verbal message. Although styles vary, they are generally ...

ceremony. The NSW ''Aboriginal Languages Act 2017'' became law on 24 October 2017. This is the first law in Australia to protect traditional

. The Act recognises that

"(a) The languages of the first peoples of the land comprising New South Wales are an integral part of the world’s oldest living culture and connect Aboriginal people to each other and to their land. (b) As a result of past Government decisions Aboriginal languages were almost lost, but they were spoken in secret and passed on through Aboriginal families and communities. (c) Aboriginal people will be reconnected with their culture and heritage by the reawakening, growing and nurturing of Aboriginal languages. (d) Aboriginal languages are part of the cultural heritage of New South Wales. (e) It is acknowledged that Aboriginal people are the custodians of Aboriginal languages and have the right to control their growth and nurturing."

Aboriginal Languages Trust

The Act states that the objective of the ''Aboriginal Languages Trust'' is to "provide a focused, coordinated and sustained effort in relation to Aboriginal language activities at local, regional and State levels". The Trust will operate as a not-for-profit New South Wales government agency. The Trust will be involved in the preparation of a strategic plan to work with Aboriginal communities to help preserve and reawaken languages in New South Wales.

References

{{reflist New South Wales legislation 20th century in New South Wales

History

Aboriginal Languages Trust

See also

References