Minimbah Preschool has joined the state-wide movement aiming to preserve and revive Aboriginal languages, and is starting with some of the city’s youngest.
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The early childhood learning facility secured a $30,000 grant from the state government, which will be used to educate the preschoolers and staff about the Aboriginal languages from the Armidale area.
Director Anarla Moran said the funding would ensure the passage of vital knowledge from Elders to youngsters.
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“It’s really exciting, and we can’t wait to get it up and running," Ms Moran said.
“It’s important to teach the students now when they are young so they can grow up with the language – it’s not only for them but then they can pass it on to the next generation.
“Language revival is really important to us in the community, and we really wanted to bring it into our preschool.”
The Ninganah No More Aboriginal language program aims to increase the level of Aboriginal languages being taught in early childhood services across the state.
Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall congratulated the Galloway Street-based centre on securing the grant.
“It’s a program that is designed around teaching young Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people about traditional language,” Mr Marshall said.
“Minimbah has veen very proactive in this regard and successful in this funding to actually bring in experts from outside to teach the staff and students.
“This is part of a bigger push across the state to reinvigorate language to ensure it’s not lost, and giving the next generations the choice to learn their tradition tongue.
“We have been doing a lot of work in primary and high schools to bring back language but this is the best time when they are in preschool so they can develop an interest and carry that through.”