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Project aims to save Indigenous stories

11 March 2003 - A project has been launched in the Kimberley, in north-west Western Australia, to ensure Aboriginal stories are preserved for the future.

Broome-based publishing house, Magabala Books, has secured about $70,000 from the Commonwealth’s Regional Assistance Program to develop manuscripts by Indigenous storytellers.

The publisher has also received funding from other sources, including Arts WA and the Kimberley College of TAFE.

Magabala’s manager, Suzie Hazlehurst, says the project is important because many of the storytellers are dying.

She says a traveller editor will be appointed to build up a network of about 100 potential authors with a view to publishing their stories.

“It may be that there will be some stories that will be single titles accompanied by artwork hopefully from the region that the stories are collected, or it could be a collection of stories that we put together as a result of the project,” she said.

Source:ABC NEWS

related links:

• Aboriginal Languages of Australia
  There are more than 200 Australian Indigenous languages, most of which have been destroyed; all the others are endangered. This site has annotated links to 140 resources for nearly 40 of these languages. About 30% of these resources are produced by Indigenous people.
• Language and Culture: A Matter of Survial
  Reconciliation and Social Justice Library
• Dictionary puts anatomy back in Aboriginal names
  May 1, 2002 - Ballarat's suburb Wendouree, like the names of so many Australian towns and landmarks, has indigenous origins. Some have quaint indigenous meanings.

Further information: culture issues page - includes news index and external links

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