Rio Tinto is undertaking a new three-year partnership with the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) to support First Nations communities in preserving, revitalising and strengthening their languages.

The partnership will support community-led language initiatives in Mapoon, Kalkatungu and Bundjalung country in Queensland along with Nhulunbuy/Yirrkala (Northern Territory) and Bidyadanga country (Western Australia).

Image at top of page: The Bidyadanga 5 Languages project team mapping kinship names.

Cultural heritage advisor for the Mapoon language project Jason Jia said the partnership represented an important investment in the future of language and culture.

“The Mapoon language project is more than a program, it is a living commitment to keeping language, culture, and identity strong for future generations,” he said.

“Through working alongside Elders and community, we are not just recording words, but strengthening connections to Country and ensuring our stories, knowledge, and voices continue to thrive for years to come.

“This work is essential, and ongoing funding ensures that this cultural knowledge is not lost but carried forward with pride and purpose.”

The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation said the partnership supported the objectives of the United Nations International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022 to 2032), assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language communities to develop and lead locally driven language initiatives through ALNF’s Living First Languages Platform.

Communities will document, teach and share language, strengthen local capability, and develop new digital resources that help keep languages strong and accessible for generations to come.