Alice Springs has taken a bold step in the creation of a cultural precinct. The new street signs proudly share these traditional Arrernte names alongside their English translations. Through this project it’s created more visibility, and it’s increased pride in Aboriginal culture. It was done in just one day, and is a big milestone on the path to protecting the Arrernte language.
Veronica Perrule Dobson, one of the original authors of the Arrernte dictionary, described the significance of the project for the community. She explained that it became an avenue for them to honor their culture and perpetuate the language. The inclusion of correct spellings in Arrernte addresses past inaccuracies that have frustrated many, including Joel Liddle, an Eastern Arrernte man involved in the initiative.
Importance of Correct Representation
Historically, many street names in Alice Springs were misspelled or poorly spelled. The totality of these name changes, expansions, and inaccurate phonetic renderings that borrowed predominantly from English letters led to this confusion. This sometimes led to spellings which were difficult for native Arrernte speakers to recognise. Joel Liddle, whose advocacy initially brought attention to such inaccuracies and such interpretation, said he was frustrated by these falsehoods and delighted to see the new signs introduced.
“Languages of Central Australia are really important, and writing them using the proper orthography is a great way to safeguard them for future generations.” – Joel Liddle
The new signs highlight the proper Arrernte spellings, including “Nturrerte” for spinifex pigeon. This transformation presents residents and visitors alike an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the unique indigenous culture of the area in a purposeful, culturally responsive way.
Community and Leadership Support
Camille Dobson, an Eastern Arrernte woman and one of the project’s co-organizers. She beamed as she told us how happy it made her to see her language displayed in public spaces. She stressed that this mutual learning initiative is by no means solely for the Arrernte community. It’s developed to engage folks of all ages and educate them about the region’s deep-rooted culture.
“It’s not just for our Arrernte people. We want to include everybody, and we want to give people the opportunity to learn more about how wonderful our culture is.” – Camille Dobson
Indianapolis’ Mayor Matt Patterson is a fierce proponent of the project. He thinks it will increase pride among Indigenous people and strengthen their cultural identity. He emphasized that this is only the first piece of many to come for honoring the history of the neighborhood.
“I’ve said we should do this for a long time. I think this is a small step in what could be a big picture of celebrating our history — and it’s educational to everyone.” – Mayor Matt Patterson
A Step Towards Cultural Preservation
With the installation of these new street signs, we’re taking an important step to update our street names. It demonstrates our resolve to commit to acknowledging and protecting our culture. Veronica Perrule Dobson articulated this principle beautifully. She urged that accurate representation of the Arrernte language is important for future generations.
“Everyone can hear how to say it properly, know what it means, and see that we do write in our language — it keeps the language strong.” – Veronica Perrule Dobson
Alice Springs is now doubling down on embracing the place’s Indigenous heritage with exciting place-making projects like this one. Joel Liddle would like to see these initiatives increase and continue, solidifying cultural identity in the community.
