Indigenous-language web site to explain legal system (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Wednesday, 18 May 2005, 07:49:18  AEST

Indigenous-language web site to explain legal system
http://abc.net.au/message/news/stories/ms_news_1370982.htm

An Aboriginal organisation from Elcho Island in the Northern Territory's
Top End says it is creating a web site to help inform Indigenous people
about the legal system.

Representatives from Aboriginal Resource and Development Services are
attending an Indigenous communications forum in Alice Springs to find
out more about the latest technological advances that might assist
their project.

The organisation's Maratja Dhamarrandji says the web site is being
created in the local Yolgnu Matha language.

He says it is an important step that needs to be taken if the rate of
Indigenous people going through the judicial system is to be reduced.

"They'll be able to understand the way that... particularly in this case
the legal matters [work]," he said.

"They'll be able to respond, they'll be able to respect it with
integrity and honour."

He says the web site is being held up by a lack of qualified
interpreters to translate legal language into Yolgnu Matha.

"There's a very urgent need in this time and era where the interpreters
or translators need to be trained up so that we can fulfil some of the
dreams and aspirations, wishes of our people right across this the
land," he said.