A VISION FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HERITAGE IN AUSTRALIA

A vision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage in Australia and the Best Practice Standards in Indigenous Cultural Heritage management and legislation

The name Dhawura Ngilan (Remembering Country) reflects the deeply emotional and spiritual connection to environment which is the heart of country that ensured continual systems were sustainable. It includes all aspects of life including relationships to all within as all living beings and objects share the spirit of our ancestors and have kinship with us.

Pronunciation of Dhawura Ngilan

At the suggestion of the Winanggaay Ngunnawal Language Group, the name Dhawura Ngilan (Remembering Country) was given to this vision. Emphasis, or stress, is placed on the first syllable of each word: DHAwura NGIlan.

dh sounds like an English ‘d’, but is made with the tongue touching the top front teeth

a is the same as ‘ar’ in English ‘far’

w is the same as in English ‘worry’

u in this word sounds like the ‘u’ in English ‘supply’

r is like a Scottish rolled ‘r’

a is again the same as ‘ar’ in English ‘far’

ng is the same as ‘ng’ in English ‘sing’

i is the same as ‘i’ in English ‘igloo’

l is the same as ‘l’ in English ‘belong’

a is the same as ‘ar’ in English ‘far’

n is the same as ‘n’ in English ‘button’

Acknowledgment and thanks to Caroline Hughes, Ngunnawal Elder and member of the Australian Capital Territory’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, for providing this information.

Visit our Dhawura Ngilan resource page here to download the report