The Bininj Kunwok Regional Language and Culture Centre (BKRLCC) was established in 2007 to promote and maintain the languages and cultures of Kakadu and West and Central Arnhem Land.
Arnhem Land has a rich linguistic landscape. Each of the languages here are often composed of several varieties or mutually intelligible dialects. Most are endangered, with some smaller language groups having only a handful of speakers - while others have more than 1000 speakers. These languages are each connected with the cultures and landscapes where they evolved, which together form the natural and cultural assets which people wish to protect. Bininj Kunwok is one of these: a chain of six mutually intelligible dialects - some with sub-dialects - which stretch from Kakadu National Park east across the Arnhem Plateau, encompassing Warddeken IPA, Djelk IPA, parts of ASRAC, Mimal to the south and diaspora communities in nearby townships.
BKLRCC aims to raise the prestige of Indigenous languages from this region to ensure that parents continue to speak these languages to their children. It supports an Aboriginal-controlled team of language and cultural heritage professionals to respond to requests for assistance which enable communities and organisations to apply language and culture in a wide range of programs and projects. This is achieved through collaborations with Aboriginal organisations and land management groups, the local land council, research entities, media, government agencies such as health services, educational institutions, councils and national parks, and more. BKLRCC also creates language resources such as dictionaries and conservation reference books, and manages a community-owned archive of more than 50,000 items of historical, linguistic and cultural importance.
