Treaty in Language
Language is a core part of who we are as First Peoples.
Our Languages are carriers of culture. They connect us to Country, express identity, maintain links to our Ancestors, and remind us of who we are and where we come from.
It is important that our Languages are embedded into Treaty. These are the Victorian First People’s Language names that are part of the current Statewide Treaty.
Gellung Warl
The Treaty establishes Gellung Warl as the permanent representative and deliberative body for Traditional Owners and First Peoples in Victoria.
Gellung Warl means ‘tip of the spear’ or ‘pointed spear’ in Gunaikurnai language.
Pronounced “Gullungwarl” (‘g’ as in ‘good’, ‘u’ as in ‘put’).
Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna
Through Truth-telling, Yoorrook began a process of healing and created a public record of our true history.
The Assembly will set up Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna to continue the Truth-telling and healing process so everyone across the state can understand our past and share a better future.
Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna means ‘to sit, to listen, to hear, to remember’ (Nyerna), ‘to truth’ (Yoorrook), ‘to cure, to heal’ (Telkuna) in Wamba Wamba/Wemba Wemba language.
Pronounced “Nyern-ah Yoo-rrook Terl-kuun-ah”
(‘ny’ is with top of tongue on roof of mouth).
Nginma Ngainga Wara
Treaty also creates Nginma Ngainga Wara, a new Outcomes and Justice Commission, within the Assembly.
This will have the power to hold government and publicly funded bodies accountable to outcomes for First Peoples by holding Parliamentary Committee-style hearings, asking questions of Ministers, conducting system-wide inquiries and running program level evaluations.
Nginma Ngainga Wara means ‘you will do’ in Wadi Wadi language.
Pronounced “Ng-in-ma Ng-ai(ay)-nga Wa-ra”
(‘ng’ as in ‘sing’, ‘a’ as in ‘car’).
larbargirrar gnuurtuk tulkuuk
Community Answerability. The principles that will underpin the Assembly’s Community Governance and Answerability Framework.
larbargirrar gnuurtuk tulkuuk means ‘Community account, reckon, truth’ in Djab Wurrung language.
Culturally, it translates to: Family and Community accountable by Lore of Country, Land, Sky and Sea / answerable to truth of Country / oldways Lore.
Pronunced “Lar-ba-giraar Gn..uur-tak Thul-kook”
(‘th’ is with tongue behind teeth, ‘u’ as in ‘put’, ‘uur’ as in ‘your‘, ‘uu’ as in ‘look’).
Ngarrakeetoong martongakeeyt
Community Vision which will be an important part ofthe Assembly’s Community Governance and Answerability Framework.
Ngarrakeetoong Martongakeeyt means ‘big/long see’ in Keerray Woorroong language.
Pronunced “Ngarra-kee-toong Mart-onga-keech”
(‘ng’ as in ‘sing‘, ‘ty/yt’ as in ‘ch’, ‘oo’ as in ‘foot’).
Cheat Sheet
Gellung Warl (First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria) – means ‘pointed spear’ or ‘tip of the spear’ in Gunaikurnai.
Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna (Office of Truth-telling and Healing) – means ‘to sit, to listen, to hear, to remember’ (Nyerna), ‘to truth’ (Yoorrook), ‘to cure, to heal’ (Telkuna) in Wamba Wamba/ Wemba Wemba.
Nginma Ngainga Wara (Outcomes and Justice Commission) – means ‘you will do’ in Wadi Wadi.
larbargirrar gnuurtuk tulkuuk (Community Answerability) – means ‘Community account, reckon, truth’ in Djab Wurrung.
Ngarrakeetoong martongakeeyt (Community Vision) – means ‘big/long see’ in Keerray Woorroong.
Further resources…
Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
The Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (VACL) is the peak body for Aboriginal Languages revitalisation in Victoria. Visit their website here.
We acknowledge and thank the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (VACL), Elders, senior Knowledge Holders, and the Language teams of several Traditional Owner groups for their assistance with this project.