Miriwoong-Ainu Language and Culture Exchange Program
https://www.ff-ainu.or.jp/web/english/index.html
Upopoy a space and facility for promoting Ainu culture, as well as a base for larger initiatives to revitalize and expand the Ainu culture.
The Foundation for Ainu Culture is the formally recognised body for the Dissemination and Advocacy for the Traditions of the Ainu and the Ainu Culture, endorsed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology).
Thanks to the support of the Australia-Japan Foundation, which is part of the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade, we are rolling out an exciting new initiative – an exchange project between the Miriwoong people and the Ainu community in Northern Japan. We are working in partnership with the Foundation for Ainu Culture to raise public awareness about the issue of language endangerment in Australia and Japan and look forward to a fruitful collaboration across the Pacific Ocean.
Like many Indigenous groups in Australia, the Ainu are facing the same challenges in that their language is threatened by extinction. This project aims at bringing together representatives of the Miriwoong and Ainu language communities, with the objective to learn from each other and share strategies that will help preserve the precious heritage transmitted since ancient times. The approach of bringing together Australian and Japanese Indigenous communities in exchanging ideas about language revitalisation represents the first instance of joining forces on this level. It also aligns perfectly with the International Decade of Indigenous Languages proclaimed by UNESCO in 2022
(https://www.unesco.org/en/decades/indigenous-languages/)
As part of this exchange, we will arrange visits from representatives of the Miriwoong and Ainu communities through the respective key organisations. On our end, we are hosting a small delegation from The Foundation for Ainu Culture for one week in April 2025 and in turn are meeting leaders of the Ainu community on their traditional lands in June 2025.
During our mutual visits, we will discuss the challenges both communities have in common, gain insight into the successes and failures of language revival strategies trialled by both parties, as well as explore ways to support each other in our goal to bring our ancient languages back to life in a modern world.
We anticipate to attract public attention through national and regional media outlets in Australia and Japan in order to raise the awareness of endangered languages and our goal to preserve them into the future.
Among the project outputs will be bilingual resources to increase such awareness in English and Japanese, as well as a detailed report to account for our partnership and the lessons learnt from this collaboration.
While the AJF is our main funding partner, we would not be able to conduct this exchange without the kind support of the following sponsors:
https://www.dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/foundations-councils-institutes/australia-japan-foundation
Main funding partner through the AJF grant program
The Australia-Japan Foundation (AJF) is Australia’s oldest cultural council supporting people-to-people links underpinning this key bilateral and regional relationship.
https://kimberleygrande.com.au/
The Kimberley Grande Resort is famous for its relaxed and friendly outback hospitality and is our accommodation of choice for this project.
The Kimberley Development Commission’s role is to promote the economic and social development of our magnificent region while making the Kimberley a great place to do business, build a career, raise a family, and invest into the future.
The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley represents the local government through a range of services to local residents and visitors and is driving strategic and inclusive development by engaging with the Miriwoong community.
The Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service is the major health care provider for Aboriginal people in the Kununurra region and offers a range of culturally appropriate services including a walk-in clinic, NDIS services, early childhood support and a range of specialist services.
Wunan Foundation is an Aboriginal development organisation which drives long-term socio- economic change for Aboriginal people by providing real opportunities for a positive change.
https://www.kimberleyexperiences.com.au/
We’re proud of our long-standing reputation for excellence in customer service and adventure tourism, and our multi-award-winning Kimberley-based portfolio – Aviair, HeliSpirit, Freshwater East Kimberley Apartments, Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge, Bungle Bungle Guided Tours – has been recognised by numerous major tourism awards and accolades over the years, including admission into the WA Tourism Hall of Fame. The most recent addition is Nexus Airlines providing daily flights from Broome to Kununurra to Darwin and return during the dry season.
https://www.arts.gov.au/what-we-do/indigenous-arts-and-languages
The Indigenous Languages and Arts (ILA) program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to express, conserve and sustain their cultures through languages and arts activities around Australia and MDWg’s operations are made possible through ILA grants.
