palawa kani At home entertainment and information

palawa kani means ‘Tasmanian Aborigines speak’; it is the only Aboriginal language in lutruwita (Tasmania) today.

Background to the Aboriginal languages of Tasmania and the development of palawa kani
https://tacinc.com.au/programs/palawa-kani/

For luwutina (children) and ripana (youth):

Children of all ages enjoy the award winning NITV cartoon Little J and Big Cuz. The wurakara (Hopalong) episode was
filmed entirely in palawa kani, with three of the voice parts spoken by 9 to 13 year old Tasmanian Aboriginal
children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKC-vmiZ8dM.

Learn palawa kani words for family, mum and play : https://tacinc.com.au/listen-to-little-yarns-in-palawa-kani-on-
abc-podcasts/

A funny clip about ‘warr!’- a palawa kani word with no English translation, on Disney Channel’s Spread the Word:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsbHD4IDxo4

One of First Languages Australia’s Young Champions, 14 year old Skye Cox of Launceston speaks of her passion and
vision for her community, language and culture:
https://www.abc.net.au/life/palawa-kani-part-of-skyes-pride-in-indigenous-language/11261436.

11 year old Kobe on ABC News, speaking about palawa kani, the language of his people:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-12/tasmanian-aboriginal-words-added-to-language-dictionary/11592828

Here’s a challenge: master all 50 palawa kani words and 6 short phrases on the University of Melbourne’s 50 Words
Interactive language map: http://50words.online/

See kanaplila-ripana perform ‘withi luna’ at putalina Festival - their original song and dance based on a traditional
creation story about the moon, sun and rainbow: https://tacinc.com.au/kanaplila-ripana-youth-dance-after-schools-
group-launceston-2019/

palawa kani nipaluna (Hobart) Language Day 2019, Celebrating world language for International Year of Indigenous
Languages: http://tacinc.com.au/nipaluna-hobart-language-day-2019/

Who knows the answer? Which city was built on nipaluna? Channel 7 The Chase, April 2019:
https://tacinc.com.au/nipaluna-on-the-chase-australia/

Sing along:
Sing rana-mana (My Body) with the pakana kitina (Little Tassie Blackfellas) After Schools Group:
https://education.abc.net.au/home#!/competition/2277558/indigenours-language-song-competition/2360584

Dewayne Everettsmith sings the palawa kani anthem milaythina-mana at nipaluna (Hobart) Language Day:
https://vimeo.com/329482144/0cf222518c

Hear liyini milaythina rrala (Singing Country Strong): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cBvpm2F8ZA

Telling it like it is in palawa kani:

Opening speech at MONA FOMA Festival, Launceston, January 2020:
https://tacinc.com.au/welcome-to-country-in-palawa-kani-the-language-of-tasmanian-aborigines-at-the-opening-of-
mona-foma-launceston/

2018 Tasmanian election campaign ad spoken entirely in palawa kani: https://vimeo.com/254082817

Seth Gardner (age 10) gives the speech in palawa kani at Invasion Day Rally, Hobart, 26 January 2017:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tuLOIUXrHQ&feature=youtu.be
A spirited speech at Parliament Lawns, Hobart, Invasion Day 26 January 2016:
https://tacinc.com.au/invasion-day-celebrations-stink/

Welcome at nipaluna (Hobart) Language Day, 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM2MO-QWzpU

palawa kani Posters:

Made by pakana-ripana Youth group, thiyanalapana lumi kanamaluka-ta (Cold Weather is here at kanamaluka/River
Tamar), May 2019: http://tacinc.com.au/thiyanalapana-lumi-kanamaluka-ta-cold-weather-is-here-at-kanamaluka-
river-tamar/

Extreme weather palawa kani Poster, February 2020:

https://www.facebook.com/TasmanianAboriginalCentre/posts/3458574484158235

panupiri tunapri (Sun Safe), January 2019: http://tacinc.com.au/panupiri-tunapri-sun-smart/

narakupa yula (Caring for muttonbirds) palawa kani Poster, March 2020:
https://tacinc.com.au/caring-for-our-yula-muttonbird-palawa-kani-poster-march-2020/

takariliya mulaka yula (Families muttonbirding) palawa kani Poster on Facebook, May 2019:
https://www.facebook.com/TasmanianAboriginalCentre/posts/2812247575457599

mina munathiya (I am sick) palawa kani Poster:

https://tacinc.com.au/palawa-kani-sentences-i-am-sick/

palawa kani names of places:

Learn and use the original names for over 180 places in lutruwita (Tasmania). On this map you can hear the palawa
kani name and see some of the history for each place: http://tacinc.com.au/pulingina-to-lutruwita-tasmania-place-
names-map/

14 Aboriginal place names now gazetted in the Tasmanian Government’s Nomenclature system
http://tacinc.com.au/official-aboriginal-and-dual-names/

Background to palawa kani place names: http://tacinc.com.au/tasmanian-aboriginal-place-names/

Nine original names for places at pilri (Cape Grim), the location of the notorious 1828 massacre, and accompanying
historical detail:
http://tacinc.com.au/pilri-cape-grim-our-story-is-in-our-country-and-its-names-palawa-kani-booklet-2019/

Two waterfalls, one in Hobart in the foothills of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, and a second at Punchbowl Reserve in
Launceston, were given palawa kani names by the Aboriginal community. The names were endorsed by both the
Hobart and Launceston City Councils but then put on hold by the Nomenclature Board.
http://tacinc.com.au/palawa-kani-names-for-two-waterfalls/

Hear the story behind the name luyni mungalina (Raining Rock Waterfall at Punchbowl Reserve, Launceston) from 2
eleven year old ripana and their Youth/Language worker, July 2019: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/this-
place/series/0/video/RA1908H023S00.

June Sculthorpe talks about palawa kani place names at nipaluna (Hobart) Language Day:
https://vimeo.com/329482903/d4e6c30a13

Preminghana Aboriginal Community Camp Information pack with map of places on the way; hear the names and
learn some of the history, March 2019: http://tacinc.com.au/visiting-places-our-ancestors-had-names-for-2019/

In the news:
University of Tasmania apology to Tasmanian Aborigines palawa kani text spoken by Vice-Chancellor Professor Rufus
Black and etched on a plaque outside the original UTAS campus – Domain House in Hobart:
https://www.utas.edu.au/latest-news/utas-homepage-news/university-apologises-to-tasmanian-aboriginal-people
How to say nuyina name of the Ice Breaker, video For International Year of Indigenous Languages, 2019:
https://www.facebook.com/AusAntarctic/videos/2286079681439806/

nuyina, the Australian Antarctic Division’s new Ice Breaker, is almost built, see video of the ship’s construction in
Romania: http://tacinc.com.au/nuyina-the-icebreaker-update-on-the-ships-construction/

The Mercury, Talking Point articles on palawa kani,

http://tacinc.com.au/palawa-kani-talking-point-mercury-newspaper-june-2019/

Language revival, ABC radio interview with palawa kani worker Tessa Atto, 2019:
https://tacinc.com.au/palawa-kani-community-language-worker-tessa-atto-interview-on-abc-radio/

Reviving language, Examiner newspaper, May 2019:

https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6181565/reviving-language-second-palawa-kani-dictionary-nears/?cs=12

Virgin Australia’s new aircraft tinamirakuna, named after the Macquarie River, 2018:
http://tacinc.com.au/ya-tinamirakuna-named-after-the-macquarie-river-in-lutruwita-tasmania/

Naming the Australian Maritime College’s AUV in palawa kani, nupiri muka ‘Eye of the Sea’:
http://tacinc.com.au/nupiri-muka-eye-of-the-sea-autonomous-underwater-vehicle-auv-official-naming-at-the-
australian-maritime-college-friday-18-august/

ABC Language on Country: https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-12/tasmanian-aboriginal-words-added-to-

language-dictionary/11592828?pfmredir=sm

ABC Weather for nipaluna (Hobart) spoken daily in palawa kani for Naidoc week, July 2019:
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/hobart/programs/breakfast/its-naidoc-week-so-heres-nipalunas-weather-in-palawa-
kani/11290902?fbclid=IwAR3nP_sRETn9fqLJX7kyTYBGiOyoB-qpLkeWyP4M927x3_M7ZU4mn5G9OE4

Another ABC Weather for nipaluna (Hobart) spoken in palawa kani for Naidoc week, July 2019:
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/hobart/programs/breakfast/its-naidoc-week-heres-nipalunas-weather-in-palawa-
kani/11302610

ABC TV story on palawa kani language on country, Behind the News, November 2019:
https://www.abc.net.au/btn/classroom/palawa-kani/11657982

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TasmanianAboriginalCentre/

How to address the Australian Curriculum Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages
- LR requirements without learning and /or using Aboriginal language? The presentation tipara waranta kani nina-
mapali-tu? What Can We Tell You? outlines a number of ways to do that.
http://tacinc.com.au/tipara-waranta-kani-nina-mapali-tu/

The Policy and Protocol for use of palawa kani Aboriginal language:
https://tacinc.com.au/the-policy-and-protocol-for-use-of-palawa-kani-aboriginal-language/

Contact us at
Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre
launceston@tacinc.com.au language@tacinc.com.au

June 2020