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Guardians of Language and Country

Guardians of Language and Country

Guardians of Language and Country is a series exploring how emerging technologies, grounded in a deep connection to Country, are helping to preserve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Join host Donnie Johannessen and producer Alden Lyall on a journey through Far North Queensland as they speak with Mamu, Gunggandj, Kuku Yalanji, and Western Kuku Yalanji elders and rangers, sharing stories of language, land, and community. Celebrate these custodians of culture, discover histories new and old, and learn a few new words along the way.

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19 min•
18 Jun

Western Yalanji: Connecting to language and Country through virtual reality

In this final episode of Guardians of Language and Country, we journey to Western Yalanji Country. Set against the rugged beauty of Far North Queensland’s rivers and freshwater creeks, this episode explores how Western Yalanji people are preserving their language—through teaching on Country, sharing intergenerational knowledge, and embracing new technologies. Brad Grogan from Western Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation shares plans for a language app and a virtual reality project that will allow connection to Country in the digital space. Rangers Lindsay Gore and Nisha Williams offer insights into everyday language use and the vast resource of cultural knowledge elders hold. From snakes interrupting interviews to heartfelt reflections on legacy and learning, this episode is a powerful reminder that language is more than words—it’s identity, connection, and a way home.

Western Yalanji: Connecting to language and Country through virtual reality
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16 min•
12 Jun

Gunggandji: Growing language with the next generation

In this episode of Guardians of Language and Country host Donnie Johannesen and producer Alden Lyall bring us stories from the Gunggandji on Yarrabah Country, where language is alive in classrooms, on beaches, and through the voices of the next generation. We'll hear from Lynese Hari about how the Gunggandji Aboriginal Corporation is preserving language through school programs, Junior Ranger activities, and how emerging technologies like AI and social media are being used for language learning. Educator Candice Sexton also explains how students are learning to introduce themselves, sing songs, and tell traditional stories—like how the turtle got its nose—in Gunggandji language. Young rangers demonstrate how deeply language is connected to country as they share place names, animal words, and the cultural stories that connect the past and the future.

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21 min•
4 Jun

Kuku Yalanji: Promoting fluency on Country with breath to breath teaching and digital preservation

In this episode of Guardians of Language and Country, we journey through the dense rainforests of the Daintree to Mossman, on Kuku Yalanji Country. Join host Donnie Johannessen and producer Alden Lyall—a proud Kuku Yalanji man—as they talk with community members about the power of speaking language on Country. From handheld recorders to language apps, we also hear how technology is being used to capture, preserve, and breathe new life into ancient words—building communities of speakers and safeguarding language for generations to come. We also explore how schools are weaving traditional language into learning, and how rangers keep fluency alive through daily practice and cultural connection.

Kuku Yalanji: Promoting fluency on Country with breath to breath teaching and digital preservation
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