Uncle Martin and Aunty Shaa share their Aboriginal heritage with you through story, ceremony and dance.

Legendary Pacific Coast – Coffs Coast On Saturday 24th May 2014, Sydney Weekender presenter Mel Symons visited the Coffs Coast showcasing the Legendary Pacific Coast.  One of the places visited was the beautiful Galnyamba Friday Creek Retreat.  Here you can learn about Aboriginal culture with Uncle Martin Ballangarry and Aunty Shaa Smith.  To watch the full video clip from the show, please click here to visit the official Sydney Weekender website. &nbs

National Native Title Conference 2014

The 2014 Annual National Native Title Conference, was held on the traditional lands of the Gumbaynggirr people.  This year’s title was ‘Living with Native Title, from the Bush to the Sea’ and the venue was Novotel Pacific Bay Resort in Coffs Harbour.  For further information about the gathering, please click here to visit the official website. ...

‘Different talk for different relatives’… Muurrbay takes part in AIATSIS Indigenous studies conference

The 2014 AIATSIS National Indigenous Studies Conference was held from Wednesday 26th to Friday 28th March at the National Convention Centre in Canberra.  It was a celebration of 50 years since the legislated establishment of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, now AIATSIS, along with the 50 year anniversary of leadership and excellence in Indigenous studies by AIATSIS. Gary Williams, Dallas Walker and Br Steve have been looking at the special

Gumbaynggirr language trainees

Eight young people have started an eight week language traineeship at Muurrbay.  They will build on their knowledge of Gumbaynggirr language and stories and learn about many aspects of language revitalisation such as developing children's stories and documenting via film and sound recordings.  Liz Keen for ABC Open will be leading the film workshops and Gumbaynggirr language teacher and researchers will share their knowledge and experience.  They are pictu...

Muurrbay attended the Boomerang Festival

Muurrbay went along to the inaugural Boomerang Festival at Tyagarah Farm near Byron Bay, on Bundjalung country.  The festival was held from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th October 2013 and we were treated to an amazing range of talented Aboriginal performers, as well as thought provoking discussions, plays and films.  Muurrbay had a language stall, and in between shows many people came to yarn with us about language.  Michael Jarrett, Shaa Smith, Pauline H...

Aboriginal Language Teacher’s workshop

A Language Teachers’ workshop  was held at Muurrbay 12-13 December, with Aboriginal teachers from many language groups attending, including Gathang (Birrbay, Warrimay and Guringay), Dharawal, Gamilaraay and the local Gumbaynggirr mob. Gary Williams greeted the group in their four different languages and talked about the role of Muurrbay in language revitalisation. Julie Long demonstrated some of the techniques that have worked well in classes on the mid...

Bunjum and Mums & Bubs group get together

Bunjum staff and the Mums and Bubs group at Ballina Public School got together with the support of Gary Williams and Anna Ash of Muurrbay to have fortnightly language workshops.  Tania Marlowe is shown here using pictures to share language.  We also practiced several songs in Bundjalung, which will be shared with Jarjums.  If you have any enquiries please contact Tania at Bunjum on 0266 867 215.        ...

Sydney Uni students yarn up at Muurrbay

Muurrbay was recently visited by a group of students of anthropology, linguistics and social work from Sydney University. Lecturers John Hobson and Susan Poetsch organised the fieldwork excursion for the unit: Re-awakening Australian Languages. This unit examines how Indigenous communities are resisting the Australian trend towards monolingualism by reviving their languages. The students also visited several Gumbaynggirr language classes in preschools, pri...