Indigenous art and culture have become key symbols of our Australian identity. Today there are popular indigenous authors, artists, poets, playwrights, dance companies and musicians. Many of these people have earned international acclaim for sharing their traditional and contemporary Aboriginal cultural heritage with the rest of the world. Indigenous arts and crafts are taking the world by storm and help generate income for indigenous individuals and communities - and the nation. The continuing existence of many indigenous languages in Australia is living proof of the survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Languages are more than just a means for people to communicate.
They are critical links between the past and the future - storehouses of the indigenous culture, history and experiences of the people who speak them. Australian indigenous languages are as rich and complex as any other languages. For the rest of the world, and for many Australians, our indigenous cultures are a core part of what is distinctive about Australia. Acknowledge the strength of Australia's indigenous cultures and their importance to our national pride and our international image and trade.