Gangalidda Language Revitalisation in Australian Schools

Mayarr Yanner, a 22-year-old Gangalidda woman, has returned to her hometown of Burketown in Queensland’s Gulf of Carpentaria to teach the Gangalidda language at Burketown State School.

As a child, she questioned the relevance of learning Japanese in school; now, she is part of a pioneering effort to revive and embed her ancestral language into everyday education.

Working with head of curriculum Karen Ford, Yanner delivers the Gangalidda LOTE (Language Other Than English) programme, integrated into the Australian curriculum and developed with cultural protocols in mind. The language is used daily across the school — from signage to classroom instruction — and is also part of initiatives like the junior ranger programme and a cultural sustainability garden.

The programme, officially launched in 2019 and strengthened by Yanner’s appointment in 2024, is now a model being shared across Queensland. It’s backed by a decades-old Gangalidda dictionary, preserved with contributions from elders like Yanner’s father, Murrandoo Yanner, who also serves as the school’s cultural consultant.

The Department of Education supports similar programs across 152 Queensland state schools, believing Indigenous language learning boosts engagement and attendance. For Mayarr, teaching the language is both a personal reconnection and a way to build a brighter future for her community.