Carmel Charles facts for kids

Mary Carmel Charles (born 1912, died 1999) was an important author and a special person. She was the very last fluent speaker of the Nyulnyul language. This language belongs to the Nyulnyul people from the Kimberley region in Western Australia. Mary Charles was born at the Beagle Bay Mission.

Who Was Mary Carmel Charles?

Mary Carmel Charles was a member of the Nyulnyul tribe. She grew up at the Beagle Bay Mission. The nuns at the mission taught her at school until she was fifteen years old. She later became a writer. Her work helped to keep her language and stories alive.

Keeping the Nyulnyul Language Alive

The Nyulnyul language is an Aboriginal language. It is spoken by the Nyulnyul people. Mary Charles was the last person who could speak it fluently. This means she knew the language very well. She wanted children to learn Nyulnyul. She worked with Bill McGregor to record and share the language.

The Story of Winin: Why the Emu Cannot Fly

Mary Charles wrote a special book called Winin : Why the Emu Cannot Fly. This book is bilingual. It has the story written in both Nyulnyul and English. At the back of the book, there is a guide. It helps you learn how to say Nyulnyul words. There are also lists of words translated between Nyulnyul and English.

The story in Winin is a traditional tale for children. It is set in the "Dreamtime". This is a very important time in Aboriginal culture. In the story, the emu used to fly higher than all other birds. It even lived in the Milky Way. The other birds, who flew close to the ground, were jealous.

The brolga bird told the emu a trick. It said if the emu's wings were smaller, it could fly even higher. The emu wanted to fly higher, so it let the other birds trim its wings. But with small wings, the emu could not fly at all. It has stayed that way ever since. This story teaches us about listening to others and being careful.

Mary Charles's Own Words

Mary Charles shared her thoughts about her life and her book. She said she was born in Beagle Bay Mission. Her parents, Angela Mandora and her father, raised her. She went to school there until she was fifteen. The nuns taught her.

She also said that almost no one else knew the Nyulnyul language well anymore. She really wanted children to learn it. She remembered her parents telling her old stories. These included the one about the emu and the brolga. She was proud that the emu story was finally published in a book.

Her Published Work

• Winin : Why the Emu Cannot Fly was published by Magabala Books in 1993.
• The book was illustrated by Francine Ngardarb Riches.
• Bill McGregor helped with the translation.