New guidelines to promote Aboriginal languages for place-naming in Western Australia have been published as part of NAIDOC Week – which this year recognises the continuous connection of Aboriginal people to language and country.
The State Minister for Lands, Ben Wyatt, said the Aboriginal and Dual Naming Guidelines will help preserve and reawaken local languages through Aboriginal place names.
Developed in consultation with local governments, Aboriginal organisations and other key stakeholders, the guidelines give WA communities the tools to identify opportunities for Aboriginal place-naming and implement them.
To mark the introduction of the new guidelines, Mr Wyatt said that Lake Disappointment, in the state’s Pilbara region, has been renamed Kumpupintil Lake, an Aboriginal name that describes how the lake was made and its links to a Martu creation story.
NAIDOC Week is usually celebrated in July but was delayed until 8-15 November because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Many local councils across the country have held celebrations to make the event. Click here for a comprehensive list of NAIDOC Week events.