First Nation Naaguja language no longer 'sleeping' as song added to ABC Radio playlist

Theona Councillor has released a song in her language which has largely been unheard for some time.  (Supplied: WAM)

A song in the "sleeping" Naaguja language by Geraldton's Theona Councillor has been added to ABC Radio's national music play list and is being heard across the country.

Ms Councillor's track Ngaalija Yangoogoo Yaanaa (Come Let's Walk Together) was recorded as part of a project by WAM (West Australian Music) to promote local, regional music titled Sounds of the Mid West.

Ms Councillor said she had been asked to translate a Noongar welcome to country song into her language but decided instead to write her own.

"I thought, 'I'm a singer-songwriter, so why don't I have a go?' and I did," she said.

Call for unity

The song has a sentiment of Australia becoming a united country, tolerant of new cultures and celebrating the uniqueness of our ancient Indigenous cultures.

"I wanted the whole song in language just to let people hear the Naaguja language once again," she said.

Ms Councillor sought the approval of elders before the song was released.

"We sat around and they had a little listen to my song and they give me the thumbs up, so I take that as 'Go ahead'.

"I'm a Naaguja woman, so on my Grandfather Councillor we belong to the Bowes River and on my Grandmother Councillor we belong to the Chapman and the Greenough rivers."

Sharing a language with the nation

WAM regional officer Nigel Bird said they spent considerable time trying to allow the songs from the Sounds of the Mid West to realise the airplay they deserved.

Theona Councillor recording her song as part of the WAM Sounds of the Mid West project. 

"To know that we have had a track added to a national play list of our national broadcaster, the ABC, is an enormous win for the artist – and for our team too," he said.

"Theona's track, to our knowledge, is the first recorded song in her Naaguja Wanggka [language].

"These outcomes are some of the amazing personal rewards for us with what we do."

A new songwriting focus

Ms Councillor is well known in the country music scene and has won a number of awards including Deadly Award for Country Artist of The Year.

She said after some time away helping raise her grandchildren she had returned to creating original music with a different perspective.

"I'm now a grandmother and I feel like I want to share about our culture and about how we're living and important things that belong to this country.

"And I want that to be for the children and my grandchildren."