Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival: Languages create a special bond

There are more than 7000 languages spoken in the world today, and storytelling in any one of them is a global art. Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival’s The Art of Languages session at Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation includes stories in a handful of these, with English translations, based on different language speakers’ life experiences. Over a kangaroo and damper lunch, Sudanese author and Big Sky guest Yuot A. Alaak — a former child refugee — will speak about his life in the Dinka language. Well-known Pilbara elder and retired stockman Peter Salmon — the last of the fluent Warriyangga speakers — will speak about his birth, and award- winning Yamatji poet and storyteller Charmaine Papertalk-Green will share stories and poetry. Hosted by Stephen Kinnane, a Marda Marda man from Mirriwong country in the East Kimberley, the session has a few fun activities thrown in. Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga Language Centre young language worker, Danah Merritt will demonstrate how she is embracing learning her own Wajarri language. Peter Salmon, Rosie Sitorus and Jacqui Cook will give the first public performance of an original song. The lunchtime session will be at Bundiyarra’s Horwood Road campus in Utakarra on Friday, October 2. Tickets are available via Eventbrite, with information from Geraldton Regional Library on 9956 6659 or library@cgg.wa.gov.au.