The centre, whose name can be translated from Nyamal language as “Language House” and is loosely pronounced “Wonga Mya” saw many people come through during the morning and also enjoy lunch.

The Wangka Maya team had a traditional underground oven going out the back, cooking food such as damper, bush turkey and kangaroo.

A life size human body upon which visitors could place tags in a variety of languages naming body parts was among the interesting displays.

Children in traditional face paint could learn about the Dreamtime and the older people had the opportunity to tell their stories and talk about their languages.

The Pilbara is home to 31 Aboriginal languages and the centre has been open since 1987 to record, preserve, maintain and promote this diverse and largely oral history.

People came not only from Port and South Hedland, but wider communities including Warralong, Yandeyarra, Jigalong, Punmu and Bellary Springs.

Original contributor and current Wangka Maya board member Lorraine Injie has been integral to the work of Wangka Maya since 1989 and her quiet manner belies the wealth of knowledge she has to share about the region’s indigenous language heritage.

Whilst she suggests perhaps up to 10 of the 31 Aboriginal languages are now extinct, at least three of the other languages, including Manyjilyjarra, Yindjibarndi and Nyangumarta have a speaking population greater than 500.

“They’ve become the lingua franca of the Pilbara,” Ms Injie said.

She discussed the important work of Uncle, Wangka Maya Chairperson Bruce Thomas, in teaching the younger generation their oral history so as to preserve Aboriginal languages before the old people are no longer with us.

“Uncle has started teaching over the last 10 years, with the old people teaching him first,” she said.

“He’s decided that these songs and stories needed to be passed on now.”

The centre offers cultural awareness training for anyone keen to develop greater understanding of our Aboriginal heritage in the Pilbara. Call 9172 2344 for details.

Wangka Maya linguist Amanda pins the tags on the body