Nhaltjan dhu larrum ga dharanan dhudi-dhawuw nunhi limurr dhu gumurrbunanhamirr ga wananhamirr, Yolnu ga Balanda: How we come together to explore and understand the deeper story of intercultural communication in a Yolnu (First Nations Australian) community

• Published in: AlterNative : an international journal of indigenous peoples Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 334 - 344
• Main Authors: Armstrong, Emily, Maypilama, Ḻäwurrpa, Bukulatjpi, Yuŋgirrŋa, Gapany, Dorothy, Fasoli, Lyn, Ireland, Sarah, Baker, Rachel Dikul, Hewat, Sally, Lowell, Anne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Auckland, N.Z SAGE Publications 01.06.2023
• Subjects: Child rearing; Community development; Indigenous peoples; Intercultural communication; Social aspects; Social life and customs; intercultural communication; Yolŋu; metaphor; collaborative research; First Nations Australian; early childhood assessment
• ISSN: 1177-1801; 1174-1740
• DOI: 10.1177/11771801231169337

This study explored intercultural communication from the perspectives of partners from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. We used a culturally responsive form of video-reflexive ethnography to study intercultural communication processes between Yolnu, pronounced Yolngu (First Nations people from the region that is now called North-East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia) and Balanda (non-Indigenous people). Yolnu and Balanda researchers worked collaboratively throughout the study (2017-2021). In a very remote Yolnu community in northern Australia, five early childhood assessment interactions were recorded and analysed by the 40 Yolnu and Balanda participants. Researchers analysed data collaboratively using an approach aligned with constructivist grounded theory. We connected key research findings about intercultural communication processes to a place-based metaphor which foregrounds Yolnu cultural knowledge and encourages reflection on deeper ways of thinking about how we connect, collaborate and communicate interculturally.