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The artist keeping Indigenous language alive on Aussie coins

Artist Ryhia Dank helped launch Australian coins featuring native animals named in the endangered Gudanji language.

Updated 1 min read

Published by Agyata NewsroomEditorial policyCorrections

Key points

  • Artist Ryhia Dank illustrated coins with six native animals named in Gudanji language.
  • The project partners include the Australian Mint, Australia Post, and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
  • Experts say currency visibility helps younger generations value and learn their traditional languages.

Why it matters. Placing endangered languages on everyday currency increases their visibility, which experts say encourages younger generations to learn and use their traditional tongues.

Updated Sources: Abc

Artist Ryhia Dank collaborated with the Australian Mint, Australia Post, and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation to release a coin collection featuring six native animals and their names in Gudanji language. The project aims to revitalize the endangered Gudanji tongue by placing it in everyday currency used across Australia. Experts note that such visibility helps younger generations feel their culture is important, potentially encouraging them to learn and use the traditional language.

Latest updates

The artist keeping Indigenous language alive on Aussie coins

Artist Ryhia Dank, a Gudanji/Wakaja and Kalkadoon creator from Borroloola in the Northern Territory, has designed a series of $1 and $2 coins featuring six native animals with their names written in Gudanji. Under the artistic name nardurna, which translates to "woman," she aims to help children recognize local wildlife like crocodiles and brolgas while honoring her matriarchal culture. Dank emphasizes that this project is vital because fewer than 100 of Australia's over 700 documented languages are currently spoken in everyday contexts. She hopes the collection will encourage people to learn about the Country and preserve the Gudanji language before it disappears entirely.

Abc

Sources

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