The Nyiyaparli Widi smartphone game, developed by a small community in Western Australia, has been named a finalist at the 2025 Anthem Awards, standing shoulder to shoulder with major global brands. This innovative project, co-created by and for the Nyiyaparli people of the Pilbara, is a culturally focused initiative aimed at preserving a critically endangered Aboriginal language.
The recognition from the Anthem Awards highlights the ongoing efforts to revive and celebrate a language with only a handful of fluent speakers remaining. The Nyiyaparli language, spoken in one of the most remote regions of Western Australia, is facing imminent extinction. According to the community, there are only eight fluent speakers remaining, a number that has decreased from eleven just 18 months ago. This decline underscores the urgency of efforts to maintain and revitalize the language.
Innovative Approach to Language Preservation
Traditional methods of preservation, such as archives or classroom teaching, have been complemented by the Nyiyaparli community’s adoption of technology. The result is a game that transforms language learning into an engaging activity for all generations. Nyiyaparli Widi features authentic Pilbara landscapes, missions tied to culturally important sites, and the real voices of community Elders, language custodians, parents, and children.
The game incorporates a unique reward mechanism, “Paathupaathu Points” (Respect Points), which are earned by collecting cultural knowledge through gameplay. These features aim to foster engagement while ensuring the transmission of language and culture.
Global Recognition and Impact
The Anthem Awards are convened to honor purpose-driven projects that contribute to social change, recognizing leaders in human rights, culture, education, innovation, and sustainability. All finalists are selected by The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS) based in New York.
The inclusion of Nyiyaparli Widi among international companies such as Google and Pepsi in the Design and Innovation category has been described by community leaders as a significant milestone, demonstrating that impact is possible on the world stage, regardless of the size or location of a community.
“This global nomination proves the work of the Nyiyaparli community to keep language alive is being understood, recognized, and valued,” said Cate Ballantyne, CEO of Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC. “Our old people told us to ‘just start’, and Nyiyaparli Widi shows what can be achieved when we keep listening and being inspired to action by our old people.”
Community Engagement and Support
Nyiyaparli Widi is also eligible for the Community Voice Award, determined by public vote. This category allows supporters worldwide to help increase visibility for the project and strengthen the ongoing effort to revive the Nyiyaparli language. Voting is open to the public until Thursday, 30 October 2025.
Members of the Nyiyaparli community have emphasized that the benefits of the game extend beyond the young. Both children and adults participate in virtual adventures that familiarize them with traditional words and stories, reinforcing knowledge that might otherwise be lost. According to the developers, every interaction with the game—from completing quests to speaking new words—directly supports language retention and cultural education. The project is intended as a living record as well as a dynamic means of social participation.
Technology Meets Tradition
The game’s launch and global nomination represent a significant outcome for the Nyiyaparli Living Language Project, coordinated by the Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation. The project’s central aim is to ensure the longevity of Nyiyaparli language and culture through community-driven projects that embrace both innovation and traditional knowledge systems.
With only about 400 people identifying as Nyiyaparli and thousands of years of cultural history, maintaining language vitality remains a major challenge. The application of accessible digital tools, such as the Nyiyaparli Widi game, marks a shift in how the community responds to these risks while seeking to build intergenerational connections.
As Nyiyaparli Widi continues to attract international attention and support, its creators hope that technology, culture, and collective effort will contribute to keeping their ancestral language alive. The move represents a significant step forward in the global conversation about the role of technology in preserving endangered languages and cultures.
