Council of Elders Establishes Language Commission

Earlier this year, the Council of Elders endorsed a Language Revitalisation Strategy (2022-2025). An objective of the Strategy was to create a Norf’k Language Commission (NLC). The NLC commenced on the 8^th June 2022; the 10-member Commission includes: Louise Tavener (Chair), Allen Bataille, Jane Rutledge, Joe Adams, Kane Anderson, Kristie Wilson, Merv Buffett, Ngaire Sheridan, Rebecca Hayes, and Wesley Quintal. Members serve a 2-year term on a voluntary basis. The establishment of the Commission coincides with the announcement by the UN General Assembly that 2022-2032 is the ‘International Decade of Indigenous Languages’

The NLC is working closely with Professor Peter Muhlhausler, who has been on the Island recently, on the production of a Norf’k dictionary. The Commission will also lead the implementation of the Language revitalisation Strategy. Although an independent body, the Commission will report to the Council of Elders on matters relating to the Norf’k language.

Any enquiries for the NLC; please contact Lou Tavener by email gonorfolkisland@gmail.com

The photo shows the NLC with Professor Muhlhausler at a welcome dinner at Jimbo & Lous home.

STREET ART – yorlye will recall our announcement three weeks ago that following a successful grant application, the street art vision can now proceed to design and planning.

The Council of Elders’ murals/street art is planned as a permanent display through the Burnt Pine area. This will be a visible honouring of our Polynesian foremothers and will depict the role they had in shaping their descendants.

The Council of Elders’ Polynesian Foremothers committee will be the organisers of this.

• A meeting will be held on Wednesday the 14th of September, 4:30pm at the A&H Hall (which is at the rear of Rawson Hall on the western side of the sports oval). Anybody wanting to be involved in this exciting project is invited to come along.

For those who may not know (and those who do), twelve Polynesian women (vahine of Tahiti, Huahine and Tubuai) and one female infant were amongst those on board HMAV Bounty when it arrived in January 1790 at Pitcairn Island (known in Tahitian legend as Hitiaurevareva).

The Maohi and British men had died violent deaths within the first few years of Pitcairn settlement and by 1799 only one adult male was left alive. The first and second generation grew and lived in a matriarchal society. Hidden and unknown to the world. They lived in safety and peacefully.

To recap on upcoming community events:-

• LANGUAGE
• STREET ART MEETING Wednesday, 14^th September 2022; A&H Hall; 4:30pm
• ANNUAL NORFOLK ISLAND AWARDS – 2022 Dinner and Presentation – Saturday 1^st October 2022. Tickets available at the Gas Centre or you can phone 54924.
• HEIVA 2023 – Monday 2^nd January 2023 (New Year .public holiday).