The three decade journey to preserve an ancient East Arnhem Land language

In the early 1990s Marilyn Ganyinurru Gurruwiwi had the vision to preserve her language. Now, her dream is a reality.

Launch of the Galpu Word Book at Elcho Island. Source: NITV

Almost three decades in the making, one woman's vision to preserve her language has come true.

A new learning resource, the Gälpu Word Book, will help strengthen one of East Arnhem Land’s ancient Aboriginal dialects.

The launch of the book honoured the vision of late Galiwin’ku's Shepherdson College literacy worker Marilyn Ganyinurru Gurruwiwi who began the project 27 years ago.

Marilyn Ganyinurru Gurruwiwi's daughter Yinin Dhurrkay. Source: NITV

“She had to work longer hours I told her you should stop working you should stay home,” said her daughter Yinin Dhurrkay.

“She said Yaka, this is not what I’m doing, I’m not doing this for me.

“I’m doing this for the generations to come even those children who come from different clan groups and have their own language, they can learn from each other by sharing the words.”

The Gälpu Word Book is helping students at Shepherdson College learn one of the eight Aboriginal languages used at school.

“It’s going to help the Gälpu clan to remember they belong to that Country, we belong to that Country, belong to the clan Gälpu,” said Gälpu Elder, Richard Gandhuwuy.

The Gälpu Word Book has 1,700 entries, each with a picture and short story in language.

Stills from inside the Galpu Word Book. Source: NITV

Ms Ganyinurru Gurruwiwi’s granddaughter Shakiera Mununggurr said it was an honour to know her grandmother’s vision had come true.

“It feels absolutely wonderful knowing that my grandmother worked very long and hard time,” she said.

“It’s such a big accomplishment and I want to say that I’m a very proud granddaughter and as a teacher myself it’s so good that we have the resources for the kids.”

Nyomba Gandangu alongside Ms Ganyinurru Gurruwiwi's family. Source: NITV

Nyomba Gandangu, a college of Ms Ganyinurru Gurruwiwi and an educator at Shepherdson College recalls sitting with her as she worked on the project.

“When I was an assistant teacher I was working here I used to sit with her and talk about this project the word of Gälpu,” they said.

“Do you want your mother language to be written in this school? and I said yeah that’s really good we need to have that word. We need to have that language spoken here.”

With the help of her family and community, Ms Ganyinurru Gurruwiwi hopes to strengthen and preserve her language have been achieved.