Connecting to indigenous culture through language: A chat with Yaaran from @wiradyuri

Wiradjuri is the Australian indigenous language of Wiradjuri country, in central-southern New South Wales. As a revival language, it is experiencing growth and provides an important connection to the local indigenous culture; however it also faces significant challenges to keep it alive and active.

In this episode, we speak with Wiradjuri man Yaaran (Aaron) Ellis who currently teaches the Wiradjuri language in Young, New South Wales. We chat about his experience of learning and teaching the language, the importance of language as a way of connecting to culture within his own family, sharing Wiradjuri in classrooms and online via social media, the challenges ahead and his hopes for the language’s future.

This episode was released in NAIDOC Week 2021. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. We live on land that was, is and always will be Aboriginal country.

Episode Links

• Find Yaaran on Instagram: @wiradyuri (look out for #WiradjuriWednesday!) | Twitter: @bigibila
• Wiradjuri Bali Yarra (Baby Talk) Flashcard Set
• Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage (Charles Sturt University)
• AIATSIS - Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• First Languages Australia
• NAIDOC Week