poetry in first languages

POETRY IN FIRST LANGUAGES 

DELIVERED BY RED ROOM POETRY AND DEVELOPED BY GUNAI POET KIRLI SAUNDERS, THE POETRY IN FIRST LANGUAGES (PIFL) PROJECT CELEBRATES, SHARES AND PRESERVES KNOWLEDGE OF FIRST NATIONS LANGUAGES AND CULTURE THROUGH POETRY, MUSIC, DANCE AND ART. 

THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS FIRST NATIONS STUDENTS IN CREATING POETRY IN FIRST LANGUAGES BY CONNECTING THEM TO FIRST NATIONS POETS, ELDERS AND LANGUAGE CUSTODIANS ON COUNTRY. OUR AIM IS TO STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS OF FIRST NATIONS STUDENTS TO COUNTRY, LANGUAGE AND COMMUNITY TO EMPOWER PRIDE IN THEIR CULTURAL IDENTITIES RESULTING IN ENHANCED WELLBEING. 

IN 2019 & 2020 NICOLE SMEDE IS A COMMISSIONED POET WITH RED ROOM POETRY. ALONGSIDE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND LANGUAGE CUSTODIANS SHE IS DELIVERING POETRY IN FIRST LANGUAGES WORKSHOPS ON DHARAWAL COUNTRY, IN DHARAWAL AND GUMEA DHARAWAL LANGUAGES.

 

Click through to read some of nicole's commissioned poems