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How did government programs support the maintenance of surviving Aboriginal languages?

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Aboriginal people of Galiwnku Island in Australia — Australian Aboriginal peoples Aboriginal people from Galiwnku Island gathering to watch the proceedings at which Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologized to the Aboriginal peoples of Australia for their mistreatment under earlier Australian governments, February 2008.

Government programs have been established to assist Aboriginal peoples in maintaining their languages and achieving literacy in them, reflecting a broader contemporary resurgence of ethnic and linguistic pride among Indigenous Australians.1

While historical government policies—such as the forced removal of children and the confinement of people to reserves—contributed to the decline of traditional life and the loss of many languages, modern initiatives focus on preservation and revitalization. These programs are part of a shift toward recognizing and supporting the cultural heritage of Aboriginal peoples, contrasting with earlier eras of forced cultural absorption and systemic mistreatment.12