Today we are acknowledging the start of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032) and celebrating the launch of Google Arts & Culture’s: Woolaroo

Woolaroo provides a new way to explore indigenous languages. Using machine learning, it recognises objects from your camera and translates them.

On average every fourteen days a language becomes extinct and of the 7000 languages spoken on Earth, more than 3000 are currently under threat of disappearing, and with them, the wisdom, perspectives and rich culture of the people who speak them.

Together with the team of Google Arts & Culture, we have created this beautiful portfolio, using Jimmy’s images, providing you with crucial information about Te reo Māori,the Indigenous language of Aotearoa New Zealand, one of the 17 languages included in the application.

Te reo Māori, stems from an ancient world. It is the vehicle to understanding the intricacies of the Māori world including te taha wairua (spiritual world) and te taha kikokiko (physical world). The language also helps locate Māori within their current environment with links to the past. Check out the portfolio for more info!