Jeanine Leane: Nginha

Nginha is a poem in Wiradjuri language by author, academic and educator Aunty Jeanine Leane.

Nginha translates from Wiradjuri to English as here. Nginha is the central idea of a poem that asserts connection to Country and place for Wiradjuri people, First Peoples across this continent, and for all people who move across this land, under its skies, and through its waterways. It is a connection that exists throughout all time and across all times.

This eternal connection is declared with a series of statements that refer to nginha / here as present, past, future, for all time, and always. The poem concludes with the word durrurdurrurdbuwulin / forever.

Nginha is significant as a poem written in Wiradjuri Language. It is part of an important and ongoing movement to place First Languages first and reclaim Language that was taken from First Peoples with the colonisation of these lands.

This new poem by Aunty Jeanine Leane gives the surrounding artistic program its title – nginha. Across three evolving seasons, the nginha program celebrates artists of our region, offers new perspectives on our collection, and promotes new art and ideas. This first season of nginha, with a focus on the artists of this place, is you are here.

Visitors are encouraged to download the Wiradjuri Language app to support their reading and learning of Wiradjuri Language

About the artist

Jeanine Leane belongs to the Wiradjuri people from the Murrumbidgee river. She is a poet, teacher, author and essayist who is well published in the areas of Aboriginal writing, writing difference and literary criticism.