Sydney should embrace the indigenous Gadigal language and roll out dual names say experts

THE GADIGAL language used by Sydney’s indigenous people should be celebrated and applied to more of our city’s streets, suburbs and landmarks, says expert Jakelin Troy.

“From an Aboriginal point of view … language is like food for our soul,” Dr Troy said.

“So many people have said to me how they’d rather have their language back than have a house or food on their plate, or clothes on their back.

“It is so much a part of your identity for any person to speak in their own language.

“To use the language of a country is to feel like you are a person of that place … to be intimately and forever connected.”

The University of Sydney academic and author of The Sydney Language has advised the City on an “acknowledgement of country” project.

This will see signs rolled out at public parks wishing visitors “bujari gamarruwa” — which is “good day” in Gadigal.

Signs will be erected in Redfern Park, Hyde Park, Alexandria Park, Victoria Park and Yellomundee Park in Redfern.

Redfern Park will receive ‘Welcome’ signs in Gadigal

Dr Troy said the project was “a very moving and great act of reconciliation”.

The City had resolved last year to investigate whether suburbs or place names could be given dual names.

Dr Troy, who is also a language adviser for the Geographical Names Board of NSW, said the names of sites around Sydney were mainly from an Anglo “invaders” perspective.

“The GNB is very keen to see Aboriginal names used in the future,” she said.

“There have been so many discussions about doing more. But this has to come from council and with council support.”

Local elder Donna Ingrams said to see the Gadigal language used around the city would be invaluable to indigenous people

“The Welcome to Country signs are a good start but there’s still a long way to go,” she said.

SYDNEY PARK WETLANDS TO BE RENAMES IN GADIGAL

Signs proclaiming ‘Welcome’ in the Gadigal language will be rolled out at Hyde Park.

Ms Ingrams would like to see new streets and suburbs named after important figures from the Aboriginal community, along with the introduction of dual names for suburbs.

“I’m not quite sure how that would happen, as the names for sites in Sydney used to be based on natural geography,” she said.

“But it’s definitely important to recognise the history here.”

The suggestion also has support from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art expert Hetti Perkins.

City Labor councillor and researcher Linda Scott said the time had come to see more use of the Gadigal language and the names of important figures — not only in parks, but around the city as a whole.

“Ideas about dual naming … are based on a long campaign by the inner city indigenous community to see this happen,” Cr Scott said.

“I strongly welcome the acknowledgement of country signage, I think it’s fantastic.

“I’ve asked staff to ensure that there is space on the new signs that will be reserved for ensuring that the Gadigal names of areas can be included at a future date.”