National Reconciliation Week 2022

For each day of National Reconciliation Week 2022, the Research Unit for Indigenous Language and the Indigenous Knowledge Institute shared a word for you to learn in an Indigenous language as well as related resources. You can find these below.

The text in the image says “Comment “Hello” in your local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language”

27 May: "Hello"

Hello! On 27 May 1967, Australians voted to change the Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the census and for the Australian Government to make laws for them. 90.77% of Australians voted ‘Yes’.

Visit the 50 Words website to learn how to say today’s word — “hello” — in an Indigenous language.
You can find out more about the 1967 Referendum at AIATSIS and at the National Reconciliation Week website.
Find out more about the history of National Reconciliation Week.

28 May: "Fish"

Today’s National Reconciliation Week word is “fish”!

Visit the 50 Words website to learn how to say today’s word in an Indigenous language.
You can learn more about engineering and aquaculture in Indigenous knowledge practice from the recording of our 2021 Knowledge Intersections Symposium session.

Three words for “Fish”: “tarto” (Bunganditj language), “kawi” (Bunuba language), “gabingali” (Yinhawangka language)

Three words for “water”: “baato” (Awabakal language), “ngak” (Wik-mungkan language), “mina” (Pitjantjatjara language)

29 May: "Water"

Following on from yesterday, today’s National Reconciliation Week word is “water”!

Visit the 50 Words website to learn how to say today’s word in an Indigenous language.
Watch the recording of “Landscape Construction Through Water” to learn more about how Indigenous peoples have shaped and managed the Australian continent over millennia.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander School Curricula project has a number of resources for incorporating Indigenous water knowledge into primary and secondary curricula.

30 May: "Moon"

Today is a New Moon, where the Moon appears dark to us. To highlight that, today’s National Reconciliation Week word is “Moon”!

Visit the 50 Words website to learn how to say today’s word in an Indigenous language.
Check out the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander School Curricula project to learn more about Moon phases in Indigenous knowledges.

“Atnyentye” is the word for “Moon” in the Ikngerre-iperre ulypme (Akarre) language

“Milky Way” is “Warrukurnti” in the Manyjilyjarra language

31 May: "Milky Way"

Today’s National Reconciliation Week term is “Milky Way”!

Visit the 50 Words website to learn how to say it in an Indigenous language.
If you’re near Melbourne, the Milky Way will be visible straight up in the sky around midnight. You can use Stellarium, an online planetarium, to see where the Milky Way is in your location.
You can learn more about Indigenous sky knowledge by watching The First Astronomers: A Conversation with Uncle Ghillar Michael Anderson and N’arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs.
Or check out our 2021 Indigenous Knowledge Symposium discussion on sky knowledge and performance traditions.

1 June: "Cold weather"

It’s the first day of winter so today’s National Reconciliation Week word is “cold weather”!

Visit the 50 Words website to learn how to say today’s term in an Indigenous language.
You can learn more about the seasons of the Kulin nations, particularly Wurundjeri, in the recording of “Cosmic Creatures: Linking animals to the stars in Australian Aboriginal astronomy”.
You can also read an article based on the presentation.

“Cold weather” in the palawa kani language is “Thiyanalapana”

Three words for “Fire”: “mwa” (Mpakwithi language), “burdi” (Kooma guwamu language), “marnem” (Gija language)

2 June: "Fire"

To keep you toasty, today’s National Reconciliation Week word is “fire”!

Visit the 50 Words website to learn how to say today’s word in an Indigenous language.
Watch the recording of “Landscape Construction Through Fire” to learn more about how Indigenous peoples have shaped and managed the Australian continent over millennia.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander School Curricula project has a number of resources for incorporating Indigenous fire knowledge into primary and secondary curricula.

3 June: "Goodbye"

Today’s National Reconciliation Week word is “goodbye”, marking the end of National Reconciliation Week and the anniversary of the Mabo decision.

Visit the 50 Words website to learn how to say today’s word in an Indigenous language.
On 3 June 1992, the myth of ‘terra nullius’ was overturned by the High Court. The case was fought by Eddie Koiki Mabo, Reverend David Passi, Sam Passi, James Rice, and Celuia Mapo Sale, and it paved the way for the Native Title Act 1993, which passed 12 months later.
You can find out more about the Mabo Case at AIATSIS and at the National Reconciliation Week website.

Three words for “goodbye/I’ll see you later”: “walilku” (Ngardi language), “marndaj-wanya” (Mudburra language), “galiya” (Yaruwu language)

If you’re a language speaker that can contribute to the 50 Words project, the Research Unit for Indigenous Language would love for you to get in touch with them so they work with you to include your language. You can contact them at ruil-contact@unimelb.edu.au.

You can find out more about Indigenous languages at Gambay.