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The Miriwoong-Ainu Language and Culture Exchange Project (MALCEP) is a joint initiative between Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre (MDWg) and The Foundation for Ainu Culture (FFAC) to facilitate the exchange of ideas and strategies between Australian and Japanese Indigenous people. Like many Indigenous groups across the globe, the Miriwoong and Ainu communities are facing the same challenges in that their languages are threatened by extinction. Our Indigenous communities are supporting each other in revitalising their languages.

Our objective is to learn from each other and share strategies that will help preserve the precious heritage transmitted since ancient times. As part of this exchange, we have arranged visits from representatives of the Miriwoong and Ainu language communities through the respective key organisations. During both visits, the delegations met community leaders, language activists, and language educators on their traditional lands.

By working together, we would like to set a signal that the revitalisation of Indigenous languages is indispensable for the sustainable maintenance of linguistic and cultural diversity in Indigenous communities, in alignment with the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032) as declared by the United Nations.

Together, we are working on innovative and effective strategies to ensure language transfer to subsequent generations is progressing.

We also acknowledge the support of the Japanese and Australian governments in providing resources towards this important goal.

For the support of this specific project, we would like to thank the Australia-Japan Foundation (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) explicitly.

Woorlab yarrenkoo Miriwoo-biny!          aynu itak a=ye ro!

A detailed report about this initiative can be downloaded here: