For many people being rich is associated with how much money you have, but for many Indigenous people being rich with culture is more fulfilling.

One way to keep culture alive is to revive the language.

The first-ever annual NSW Aboriginal Languages Week was held during the week of October 24, to coincide with the passing of the Aboriginal Languages Act 2017 into law.

The week is organised by the Aboriginal Languages Trust and the theme for 2023 is “Languages Alive, Culture Thrives”.

“NSW Aboriginal Languages Week grants are a response to calls from Aboriginal communities for increased opportunities to celebrate and promote their languages," said Executive Director Clare McHugh.

“We often hear from communities how NSW Aboriginal languages are alive and growing because of the hard work and dedication of people in communities over many decades, and communities want to celebrate these achievements.”

Uncle Brad Steadman has been learning and sharing local language for around three decades and admits to being trilingual.

These days he is the language officer for REDIE.

He was also part of a team that attended the launch of the NSW Aboriginal Languages Week in Sydney on Saturday 21 October where 16 different language groups were represented and around three thousand people took part.

“It was a very good day with bands, dances, many stalls selling products and organisations with giveaways and information," Mr Steadman said.

But Brad says that it is the ongoing work teaching local young people their language that is most important, even if the real impact may not be felt straight away.

He regularly teaches children and teenagers throughout Brewarrina, through the local preschool, childcare, Central School and St Patrick's Primary school.

"I'd rather be in with the kids doing work face to face," he said. "It's going to take another ten years to see what will really happen from it but the kids do enjoy it and they are learning it."

Brad Steadman

Mr Steadman says that the interest from the local kids means that being a language worker in Brewarrina is not just a 9am to 3pm role but a 24 hour, seven day a week job.

"For me the response of the kids is just as important as learning it, and they want to learn. They are asking questions and want to know more outside of school, if they see you at the footy oval or down the river.

"I see them everywhere so it doesn't stop, but I don't mind that - they're loving it."

Mr Steadman hopes their enthusiasm will be long-lasting, as there are no shortcuts to a living language.

"It took me about thirty years," he said. "I learnt from the old people. You don't get it from Uncle Google - it comes from real living people."