Observations from indigenous languages in Northern Territory, Australia
Authors: Allison Gray
Journal: The Lancet Global Health (2018)

David Flood and Peter Rohloff's Comment on indigenous languages and global health (February, 2018)1Flood Rohloff Indigenous languages and global health.Lancet Glob Health. 2018; 6: e134-e135Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar facilitated a reflection on languages in the Northern Territory of Australia. The concept of so-called both ways or two-way learning respects and incorporates Aboriginal cultural concepts with Western pedagogies in Australian teaching. In 1973, bilingual education was established in remote schools of the Northern Territory in Australia, recognising benefits for self-identity, learning, and equity.2Purdie N Milgate G Bell HR Two way teaching and learning: toward culturally reflective and relevant education. ACER Press, Camberwell, VIC, Australia2011Google Scholar Heavy political debate and controversy have followed the inception of bilingual education. Despite evidence supporting this type of education, closure and reduction in funding for these schools has become the norm. I believe that to counteract the effects of language loss, upstream factors such as education should be considered, so that they can work alongside the downstream models suggested by Flood and Rohloff.1Flood Rohloff Indigenous languages and global health.Lancet Glob Health. 2018; 6: e134-e135Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar Preserving indigenous languages has also been considered as a positive indicator in the pursuit of self-determination.3Webb J Indigenous peoples and the right to self determination.J Indig Policy. 2012; 7: 75-102Google Scholar I agree with the authors' statement that indigenous language sensitivity is more than using interpreters and translators.1Flood Rohloff Indigenous languages and global health.Lancet Glob Health. 2018; 6: e134-e135Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar Cultural competence is embedded in many professional accreditation standards in Australia, commonly measuring practitioner approaches to health care regarding indigenous Australians.4Thompson SC Thackrah RD Refining the concept of cultural competence: building on decades of progress.Medical J Aust. 2013; 199: 35-38Crossref PubMed Scopus (47) Google Scholar This practice requires a level of self-reflection, where one's own culture and world views are examined. Enacting these principles could help recognise the damaging effects of colonisation and other barriers to accessing health care, as outlined in Flood and Rohloff's Comment.1Flood Rohloff Indigenous languages and global health.Lancet Glob Health. 2018; 6: e134-e135Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar Certain public health resources have been translated from English into Aboriginal languages in the Northern Territory. Translation of resources aligns with the authors' sentiment1Flood Rohloff Indigenous languages and global health.Lancet Glob Health. 2018; 6: e134-e135Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar on indigenous languages themselves as health interventions. The importance of having Aboriginal-language health resources is recognised; however, there are some cultural considerations when adapting these health resources from English. Ideally, specific resources should be developed in consultation with a range of speakers of the target language. When adapting existing resources, consideration should be given to using a deceased person's image (appropriate family members should be consulted for permission), and a focus group, comprising members of the target audience, should be used, to ensure that non-indigenous developers are not unilaterally determining what is relevant.5Taylor KA Lindeman MA Stothers K Piper K Kuipers P Intercultural communications in remote Aboriginal Australian communities: what works in dementia education and management?.Health Sociol Rev. 2012; 21: 208-219Crossref Scopus (18) Google Scholar I declare no competing interests. Indigenous languages and global healthImproving the health of the world's 370 million indigenous people is a crucial global health priority.1 Indigenous groups worldwide tend to have worse health outcomes than corresponding non-indigenous populations.2 These disparities stem from structural forces of colonisation, poverty, and marginalisation, as well as from barriers to accessing health care.3 Full-Text PDF Open Access