“I belong to a universe in which (Euskera) was the dominant language. What matters to me is the language, which is something as human as walking …it’s what helps us endure.”
Bernardo Atxaga (bare-nahr-doh aht-chah-gah), author
“For the Basque language the focus is on unity or “we.” It’s about “our hand” or “our land.” It’s “our.” It’s not “I” or “mine.” It’s “we” or “our” because it’s so much based on survival.”
Angeles Arrien (an-juh-lis ah-ree-yen), educator
“Someday, some strong people will appear out of us and we will rise up to compete with the world, as it moves on and on.”
Chiri Yukie (cheer-eee yoo-kee-yay), author and story keeper
“We demand that…peoples recognize reciprocally the freedom of each ethnic group to use its own language and acknowledge the fact that there exist different ethnic cultures.”
Giichi Nomura (geye-chee no-moor-ah), human rights activist
“Ainu culture isn’t limited to language or ceremonies or dance. It is Ainu life itself. Whatever happens every day within the household is Ainu culture.”
Ryoko Tahara (yoh-koh tah-hah-rah), chairperson Ainu Women's Association
“We are a living people. We are not a culture only. It is no use if only our culture is preserved. We would like to recover our rights as human beings.“
Koichi Kaizawa (koych keye-zah-wah), culture preservationist
“I saw fathers and mothers at their gatherings saying their prayers…singing and dancing full of joy all night. At those moments, they could confirm their identity as Ainu.”
Shizue Ukaji (she-zay kah-jee), embroidery artist
“There are things more important than making money - generosity, kindly feelings toward the weak, broad-mindedness, caring for earth.”
Shiro Kayano (shee-roh keye-ah-noh), language keeper
“All that you do is not only your will but the will of your ancestors.”
Rie Kayano (ree keye-ah-noh), oral historian
“All things sent from the heavens always have a role to play.”
Hideo Akibe (hee-day-yoh ah-kee-bay), director Ainu Industrial Arts Association
“You've got the sticks and that but we've got the stories and without the stories the sticks mean nothing.”
Treasy Woods (tree-see woods), artist, Noongar Heritage Group chair
“They come back to their traditional country… A very strong part of (Noongar culture) is you know where your roots are. You come back.”
Glen Colbung (glen coal-bung), president Aboriginal Legal Service
“In the spirit of our early Noongar resistance fighters we assert that we will not surrender our birthrights. We are not for sale.”
Naomi Smith (nay-oh-mee smith), lead claimant Noongar Native Title case
“Our capacity to hunt, seek healing and communicate spiritually was dependent upon our practices of putting into and returning to our Country the spirit of our people.”
Cliff Humphries (klif hum-freez), language custodian
“Our stories about ourselves and our people are ultimately entwined with stories about our Country and where it is that we, and our spirit, are said to belong.”
Arthur Slater (ahr-therr slay-terr), Chairperson, Ballardong Natural Resource Management Working Group
“Our ethos is rooted in stewardship. We don't own the land, we belong to it.”
Dale Tilbrook (dayl till-brook), native food specialist & educator
“If we have education we can be able to get land and we can be able to defend the land too.”
Shani Msafiri Mangola (shah-nee m-sah-feer-ee mahn-go-lah), law student, human rights activist