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‘Should have been my birthright’ - the journey to reclaim a lost language

This podcast explores the deep emotional and cultural journey of reconnecting with lost Indigenous languages. Host Rudi Bremer, a Gamilaraay woman, shares her personal path to learning her mother tongue, revealing how language is far more than words—it is a vessel for identity, kinship, and healing from colonial trauma.
The episode delves into the profound sense of loss and belonging that comes with language reclamation. Rudi Bremer and guests Jade McHughes and Trinity Clarke discuss how losing Indigenous languages means losing entire cultural concepts and connections to country. They highlight that learning ancestral languages is a healing act, boosting confidence and re-establishing ties to land and community. Trinity Clarke shares her innovative self-taught method using technology, like filming elders and using Snapchat to practice pronunciation. The discussion underscores that language is foundational to Indigenous kinship systems, defining responsibilities and community roles, and that reclamation is a birthright and a path to restoring what was taken by colonial violence.
00:00
00:00
The word 'gunagala' reveals dual meanings in the sky
03:12
03:12
Language is tied to identity and belonging
07:09
07:09
Language reclamation is a birthright.
18:20
18:20
Language revitalization must create living speakers, not just resources.
21:23
21:23
Language is foundational to culture and community.