Why Does Language Matter?
On Sunday, we witnessed the horrific attack on Camp Sovereignty and First Nations peoples, including Aunties and women, in Kings Domain, Melbourne. This was the language of fear, distortion, and racism.
Yet Kings Domain Resting Place speaks another language: one of sacredness, peace, gathering, ceremony, connection, and resilience reaching back to deep time. Camp Sovereignty speaks the language of healing, justice, harmony, respect, truth-telling, and hope.
Language matters because language is life.
The Love Language of Allyship
You may have heard of “love languages” in relationships. In our relationship with First Nations peoples, we can choose to learn the love language of Allyship.
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The language of Country, a living entity with spirit and agency:
“When we speak of Country, we speak of family.” -
The language of Kinship, where everyone belongs:
“We have names for every relationship, ensuring no one is forgotten. Even parents who’ve lost children have their own special identity. But there is no name for an orphan, as in our Kinship there are no orphans.” -
The language of Law and Wisdom, grounded in culture:
“Every word carries thousands of years of wisdom, cultural knowledge, and connection to this land.”
Why Organisations Should Value Aboriginal Language
When you learn even a single Aboriginal word and use it respectfully, you are saying: I see you. I value your culture. I want to understand.
When an organisation values Aboriginal language and culture, it is saying: We acknowledge your sovereignty. We want to walk alongside you.
While it’s vital to confront racism and lean into hard conversations, Allyship is also expressed through understanding. By taking the time to learn about places like Kings Domain Resting Place – and to reflect on what happened at Camp Sovereignty on Sunday – you are speaking the love language of Allyship.
Language, Resilience, and Indigenous Literacy Day
In the weeks ahead, we will move into the challenging but necessary conversations about cultural load and racism. For now, we rest in the language of love, hope, and resilience.
Tomorrow, Aunty Munya will be sharing more about the deep power of Aboriginal languages in her webinar, Can You Speak Googaburra?, which also coincides with Indigenous Literacy Day.
👉 Celebrate Indigenous Literacy Day with us and discover how language can be a bridge to healing, Allyship, and connection.
Join us for a Yarn
We invite you to gather with us around the virtual fire — a space to reflect, ask questions, and explore how you can walk forward with purpose. Together, we’ll deepen our understanding and take meaningful steps toward Reconciliation in a genuine, practical way.
