An online comedy series featuring two puppets' offbeat adventures on Wiradjuri country is not only promoting the language but it's giving Wiradjuri people a unique platform to speak Wiradjuri in film.
The Who? What? Where? series, recently uploaded to YouTube, was created by Wiradjuri woman Ruth Davys and Bundjalung (Widjabal)-Gumbayngirr women Pettina Love and Jess Love.
The series is the latest project from Ms Davys and Dr Love's Wiradjuri language education business, Giilangyaldhaanygalang, based in Albury-Wodonga on the New South Wales-Victorian border.
Ms Davys said Giilangyaldhaanygalang, which could be translated to "storytellers" or "many stories to tell", was funded from an initiative administered by Aboriginal Affairs NSW.
Ms Davys said the two-season series supported Wiradjuri language learning through puppets Ruthie and Petal's adventures on Wiradjuri country in their home town of Albury and visits to places including Forbes, Parkes, Tumut, Wagga Wagga, and Condobolin.
Ms Davys said early episodes of the series included the repetition of one or two Wiradjuri words and the amount of Wiradjuri language spoken increased as the series progressed.
"In our first episode, you will hear a lot of English being spoken with only one word of Wiradjuri, which is 'yagay' when Ruthie gets scared," she said.
"Later on the puppets start to use phrases like 'yiradhu marang' (good day), 'marang ngarin' (good morning), 'marang yariya' (good evening) and yalgirridhunyal guwayu' (I will talk to you later)."
Ms Davys said only Wiradjuri language was spoken in the final episode of season two.
While the series promoted Wiradjuri language, Ms Davys said it also provided a unique opportunity for Wiradjuri people to use their language in film.
"We have a lot of cameos with local community members throughout the series saying 'hi' or 'bye' in Wiradjuri on film.
"Members of the community loved being involved and there was so much excitement around communities in relation to people being able to speak their language on film.
Ms Davys said Ruthie and Petal had plans for more adventures.
"They're in the car ready and waiting for the next road trip," she said.
