Crossing into another tribes Country required a request for permission to enter. live, learn and work. A Welcome to Country occurs at the beginning of a formal event and can take many forms including singing, dancing, smoking ceremonies or a speech in traditional language or English. I am delighted to lead the Shire of Toodyay's commitment towards . Below are three examples of Acknowledgments of Country that can be used on Noongar land provided by the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council; I/We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we are meeting on, the Whadjuk (Perth region) people. The practice can be done by anyone, at any time. Yet, there are nearly as many places that have been given Noongar names. A lot of the Nyungar history and culture have come from word of mouth from our Nyungar elders.Craig McVee in van den Berg, Collard, Harben and Byrne, Nyungar Tourism in the South West of Western Australia, Murdoch University, 2005. In 1833, Robert Lyon published articles on Noongar customs manners and dialects. Meet at the first pavilion. The Whadjuk people are part of a larger group that have existed in the South-West of Western Australia (WA) for more than 50,000 years, known by their common language: Nyoongar. Whadjuk Elders & Speakers Welcome to Country List keyboard_arrow_right. Trade took place before the settlers actually came to this country. AFL scene having such a key community event being held on Noongar country," he said "As for us . For more details about the change, view the FAQ. 5. 1. Former Opponents Discuss | UFC 285, Tabatha Ricci Fight Week Interview | UFC 285: Jones vs Gane, Farid Basharat, Part 1 | Dana Whites Contender Series: Next Level, Valentina Shevchenko Fight Week Interview | UFC 285, Cody Garbrandt Fight Week Interview | UFC 285, Mateusz Gamrot Fight Week Interview | UFC 285, Alexa Grasso Fight Week Interview | UFC 285, Cameron Saaiman Fight Week Interview | UFC 285, Jalin Turner Fight Week Interview | UFC 285. We acknowledge our Ancestors and Elders from long ago until today. Koort is heart. We provide a wide range of services such as: ), Hesperian Press, Carlisle, 1992, cited in Vinnicombe, Patricia. Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation Membership of SWALSC does not mean you are automatically a member of your regional corporation. Whadjuk: is one of 14 dialectal groups of Nyoongar people. [xv] The spelling is as it was written by the original non-Noongar authors rather than the current accepted spelling. Palanni waangkaniny. It was made from peppermint shafts. These words are used everyday but they sound slightly different from region to region. Source: Shane Pickett, 1998; Art Gallery . Mandurah Bridge - on the wall at the western end of the bridge's footpath is a welcome to country written in Noongar dialect. Lowanna. This rope was also used to tie up wounds. Tabba: a knife made of sharp pieces of quartz connected to a short wooden stick, as thick as a thumb, by kodja or blackboy tree gum. Wilgi: ochre used dry or mixed with grease for protection from the elements such as the sun and flies or mosquitoes. Noongar Language Facts: The Noongar language is regarded as endangered, with few fluent speakers, although there has been a revival of interest in recent years. As this was the first full meeting of Council for 2023 the Presiding Member advised it was important to set the scene for the year ahead and welcomed Mr Matthew McGuire to perform a Welcome to Country Ceremony. Ingrid is the founder and principal consultant of Kart Koort Wiern consultancy, representing First Nations Business globally for over ten years, and an alumni of Murdoc Leaving at 10am on weekdays, the tour runs for 45 minutes. And Im talking with my cousin now So one of these girls she told a teacher, reckoned that I was swearing at her, I was swearing. Our program focuses on preserving the karlup (home or heart country) and the traditional knowledge of Noongar people. 6. Revival of our language is also evident with Noongar being taught in addition to English in primary schools like Carralee in Willagee, Morditj Noongar in Middle Swan, Ashfield Primary School and Djidi Djidi School at Bunbury. Acknowledgement of Country We come here to this place here, Minningup, the Collie River, to share the story of this area or what makes it so special. And natural grasses grew all along the banks and they were encouraged to grow there, and the main encouragement for them to grow there was the use of fire. PO Box 237 I was out alright. Watch Kylie Farmer [Kaarljilba Kaardn], Noongar actor, TV presenter, writer and director, in her inspiring talk to TEDxManly in February 2014 on the topic Keep Our Languages Alive, All Should Speak Nyoongar. You can also show respect through an Acknowledgement of Country: We acknowledge the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation as the traditional custodians of this country and its waters and that Murdoch University stands on Noongar country. First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we Some locations are particularly special to the Whadjuk people, such as a cave along the Derbal Yarrigan (the Swan River) where it's believed the creation serpent lives. The South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council are producing posters in Noongar language. Explore true natural beauty with spectacular flora and unique wildlife. Let your Noongar tour guides tell you the First Story of this land, before Europeans arrived, invoking the sights and sounds of [xiii] Salvado, Dom Rosendo Memorie Storiche dellAustralia. Include Aboriginal dance, music and storytelling. Noongar names provide significant information about that place: Wadjemup is the place where the spirits go; Gabbi Darbal means estuary, the place where salt and freshwaters mix and Kinjarling is place where it rains a lot.[vii]. A Welcome to Country can often involve such activities as a song, dance, smoking ceremonies, or the exchange of gifts. and Gioia, P. Species Richness and Endemism in the Western Australian Flora. [viii] Beard, J.S., Chapman, A.R. A Welcome to Country ceremony is performed by a recognised elder of a clan that has ancestral links to the land. Aborigines of Australia. Our people went as far as Uluru and the centre of Australia and those people from there came back as well. You will need to apply for membership of your regional corporation separately. The major cities and towns within the Whajuk region include Perth, Fremantle, Joondalup, Armadale, Toodyay, Wundowie, Bullsbrook and Chidlow. [ii] This map is just one representation of many other map sources that are available for Aboriginal Australia. Whadjuk is the name of the dialectal group from the Perth area. Whadjuk People is also the name of the registered Native Title claim 2011. Please contact the City on 1300 MYFREO for a list of Whadjuk Traditional Owners. ABC Education brings you high-quality educational content to use at home and in the classroom. I/We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region., I/We would like to acknowledge that this meeting is being held on the traditional lands of the Noongar people. Noonak moorditj, noonook ngaangk yira. Text Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0). Using published resources available between 1988-1994 this map attempts to represent all the language or tribal or nation groups of the Indigenous people of Australia. In Noongar language, Fremantle, Rottnest, Perth and Albany are known as Walyalup, Wadjemup, Gabbi Darbal and Kinjarling. If you have any questions, call SWALSC on 9358 7400 or email regionalcorporations@noongar.org.au. It uses the spelling for Noongar words agreed at that time by elders from across Noongar country. Nidja Noongar Boodjar noonook djinanginy. Here are some Noongar words for you to practice. Two Noongar language groups, the Whadjuk and Yued people, lived and shared cultural areas in the northern parts of the City of Wanneroo for traditions and customs. Thats our rules. The approximate size of the Whadjuk region is 5,580 km. Welcome to Country enables the Darug to give their blessing for the event and is an important mark of respect for local traditional owners. The Dictionary also explains the sounds, spelling and pronunciation of Noongar words.[xiv]. Journal of Biogeography 27: 1257-1268. The story happened a long time ago and it is as follows: There was all the Nyungar or people who used to camp the Derbal or estuary [around Perth waters]. Subiaco WA 6904, Booking Terms & Conditions Consisting of 14 different dialects, Noongar is an oral language and the spelling of it is variable. Cheers.Kym Rowe. The City of Rockingham has close connections with the local Aboriginal community, and these ties have been forged through our Aboriginal Advisory Group and the implementation of the recently adopted Reconciliation Action Plan 2021 - 2023. Overall there are many common words in Noongar, for example: kaya = hello, moort = family, boodja = country and yongka = kangaroo. In the past, as Kevin Fitzgerald said, a fly lizard was put on a childs tongue for them to learn how to pronounce Noongar language. They reckoned that in the wintertime, it was cold, see, and these fellas who used to hunt up in the bush, they brought some things down, clothing and stuff (yongka booka [kangaroo skin cloaks]). Sign up for regular updates from ABC Education, Your information is being handled in accordance with the. The word Noongar means a person of the south-west of Western Australia, or the name for the original inhabitants of the south-west of Western Australia. You are invited to a free Welcome to Country hosted by a Whadjuk Noongar Traditional Owner. The reason for this can be found in an early document from Governor Hutt. Western Australian Museum, Perth, 1992, [xvi] Kevin Fitzgerald, oral history, South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, 2006, Copyright South West Aboriginal Land & Sea Council 2023, Nyoongar language from the south west region of Western Australia, http://books.google.com.au/books?id=1e8UAAAAYAAJ&dq=George%20Fletcher%20Moore&pg=PR1#v=onepage&q&f=false. Well, if we name them in their English names, you'd have King's Park or Mount Eliza. A child is called a nop. Whadjuk is the name of Traditional Owners of the Perth region including Fremantle. I am a Noongar. You will find lots of language and see our beautiful . Biladurang the Platypus. Throughout the Whadjuk Region there are a range of significant Noongar sites. . Indulge in unique flavours and memorable dining experiences. Any individual can perform an Acknowledgment of Country, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. And, um, combine that with fish and there was lots to eat. In a dispatch of British Parliamentary papers from Western Australia in 1840, Hutt wrote it is only an act of fair justice to the first inhabitants or discoverers of any spot, to retain the name that they may have conferred upon it.[vi]. Kaya noonakoort. Whadjuk is the name of Traditional Owners of the Perth region including Fremantle. Many Noongar people of today grew up speaking English in school and Noongar at home. The wonna was fired for hardness and was used for digging, killing animals and fighting with other women. Fremantle itself we'd call 'Walyalup' and Walyalup your lungs. TheReconciliation Australia website is another example. Cousins well they call them same grandfather, same as their cousin, dembart.Noongar Elder Tom Bennell in Collard, Harben and van den Berg, Nidja Beeliar Boodjar Noonookurt Nyininy website, 2004. For nearly two centuries Noongar language has adapted to the impacts of colonisation and survived government reserves and missions, where it was also forbidden for Noongar people to speak our language. A warm welcome to Noongar land. Trade between our people and people from other nations is well documented. Kalyokool, kalyokool.KayaFATSILC, The Federation of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Languages & Culture(Corporation). Video Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). It displays the following statement; Reconciliation Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. The different groups would bring stones and ochres and all sorts of different things from their country that didnt exist in Nyungar country and that is a form of paying their way which puts them into the category of trade and tourism. We pay our respects to Noongar elders past and present, and acknowledge We acknowledge the Noongar people as the traditional owners of Whadjuk country, and extend our respects to their elders past and present. We acknowledge Noongar people as the original custodians of this land. This spelling is still used when teaching Noongar language in schools. They contain a word list of local Noongar people from the Victoria Plains. The Centre for Aboriginal Studies offers postgraduate courses. And that was only one thing, the other thing was to teach em not to talk in their language, to teach em to talk in the EnglishDoolann Leisha Eatts, oral history, SWALSC, 2003, Noongar language has survived despite the impact of settlement and dominance of English. Similar to a Welcome to Country, an Acknowledgement of Country is generally offered at the beginning of a meeting, speech or formal occasion. There are several language groups that make up the Noongar, including the Whadjuk, who are the traditional owners of the land around Perth. Noonak waangk, yoowarl koorl, birdiyar ngaala boodja noonook woorn noonak kooranyi kaalak. Much of the biodiversity in Noongar country is not found anywhere else in the world. [ix] Lyon, Robert Menli. Nulbarn: a rope-like girdle made from possum hair, wound around the waist and used to carry the kylie (boomerang), tabba (knife), kodja (axe or axe heads) and the dowak (throwing stick). This beautiful name is a Gumbaynggir word that translates to girl. [iii] Daisy Bates records that Goonininup or Crawley Bay was a key camping place on a major trade route used by Nyungar travelling from other areas to Perth in order to trade for the highly demanded wilgi (red ochre).[iv]. A recorded audio Welcome to Country is available to all at the Koora-Yeye-Boordawan-Kalyakoorl (Past-Present-Future-Forever) sculpture at the end of the main jetty. This is Noongar Country you are seeing. Listen old fellow, listen for em, bring them home. However, the essential elements of welcoming visitors and offering safe passage remain in place. Balap kaartdijin. Whadjuk [pronounced wod-JUK] Noongar Elder and ambassador Dr Noel Nannup talks about traditional Whadjuk ways of life and key cultural places in Perth, and he teaches us the Noongar words for some Perth suburbs (such as Nollamara). Some Noongar place names and their meanings are in Noongar Wangkinyiny. Girawu the Goanna. However, it had, uh, different dialects of that language. Privacy Statement, 2021 Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours & Experiences. Now, the reason they cried by the sea was because we believed in our old way that people were buried out there under the ocean. Nyininy, nih wer kaartdjinin Noongar wangkiny. Welcome to Noongar country. So trade in Nyungar country is very very old, thousands of years old.Dr Richard Walley in van den Berg, Collard, Harben and Byrne, Nyungar Tourism in the South West of Western Australia, Murdoch University, 2005. So we cry from our lungs and we laugh from our lungs. Welcome to country It indicates only the general location of larger groupings of people which may include smaller groups such as clans, dialects or individual languages in a group. Free daily Welcome to Country hosted by a Whadjuk Noongar Traditional Owner. In 1992 the first Noongar Dictionary produced by Noongar people was compiled and published by Rose Whitehurst for the Noongar Language and Cultural Centre. When we look at the, the city and we think what parts of this city are really important. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders both past and present., Receive all news and announcements from WAAMH. Noongar Language and Culture Centre (Aboriginal Corporation), Bunbury, 1992, [xv] Bindon, Peter and Chadwick, Ross. Where the city of Perth is that area was known as Boorloo. Adopted into the local English language are also many Noongar plant and animal names: Marri, Karri, Jarrah, Quenda (Bandicoot), Quokka and Jilgie. There are several language groups that make up the Noongar, including the Whadjuk, who are the traditional owners of the land around Perth. Ngany waangkaniny. The diary of Augustus Gilbert. Boundaries are not intended to be exact. Mooly is your nose, dwonk is your ear, marr is your hand and ngorrolick is your teeth I love going to Badgaling, we get gum from the trees, look for yonga (kangaroo) when I am in the bush I feel free.Bianca, 9 years old, interviewed February 2013, SWALSC, Manna gum collected from Ballardong booja. This contains an assemblage of the word lists gathered by Europeans in the early years of the colony, and described above, as well as work from Curr, Bates and Hassell. [i] Tindale, N.B. Copyright South West Aboriginal Land & Sea Council 2023. Nyinya nyinyak ngaalang ngaala wara waarniny. Dive in and explore the wonders of this true aquatic playground. Watch Noongar of the Beeliar for a sense of place around the Swan River. Similar to a Welcome to Country, an Acknowledgement of Country is generally offered at the beginning of a meeting, speech or formal occasion.' ~ Reconciliation Australia. Ngany moort koorliny. And when we have a place like that, it simply means a place where people cried by the sea. They can provide contact details for a Traditional Owner/Custodian. All the others would cross at Matagarup the Causeway mark, um, means the water only comes up to your knees. Come on a journey through the colonial history of Perth. Also used during ceremonies. The Wanjoo song is popular in early childhood education centres, schools and choirs around Perth, thanks to its deep roots in the Noongar tradition. Last updated: 5 December 2022 19 min read Author: Jens Korff Close this Wishing you knew more about Aboriginal culture? What else have we got? Hear the first names of our ancient sites, used long before they were changed bySwan River colonists to venerate the English origins of their new society. This spear was made in the Ellensbrook and Wonnerup areas. Miro: the name of the south-west spear thrower used by Noongars to propel the aim of the gidjee. Weja: emu feathers used as ornamentation at ceremonies. Wonna: the women`s digging stick was about six feet long and and as thick as a broom handle. This is the important part of the river, of the whole Collie River and the Preston River and the Brunswick River, because he created all them rivers and all the waters but here is the most important because this is where he rest. Your Noongar guide will take you on an ancient Dreamtime journey with its origins in the night sky. That would be their responsibility, when there's plenty of dew in the air, and it would just gently burn through and burn that grass. The Quokka Hopper is undergoing maintenance and is currently unavailable. We pray that our imprint on this earth may bear the marks of reverence for this fragile planet and for each other as we journey together on the path towards reconciliation. Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours & Experiences Bridge (ed. So it was burnt regularly about every year, as soon as the grass was dry, someone would light it up. Koolark means Home in the Noongar language. The approximate size of the Whadjuk region is 5,580 km. 8. Bridge (ed. Yued/Yuat, Whadjuk/Wajuk, Binjareb/Pinjarup, Wardandi, Balardong/Ballardong, Nyakinyaki, Wilman, Ganeang, Bibulmun/Piblemen, Mineng, Goreng and Wudjari and . We are happy, our heart is happy to be speaking with you all. [xiv] Whitehurst, Rose (compiler). And I looked at her, you know, she said, You, you! Metadata Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). It reinforces our group identity, which binds land and people. Nyinyak ngaalang nidja kedela ngaala mereny. And that was an important place for us too. Stay connected and be the first to hear about new experiences, events and special offers. Nyungar wangkiny or speaking and understanding our language is central to our identity. Noongar language has also been adapted into the local English vocabulary, notably with places, plants and animals. To celebrate the opening of the new space at the State Buildings, KAMIL GALLERY is pleased to invite you to the VIP opening of CIRCLE CULTURE, solo exhibition by Caroline Christie - Coxon. We pay our respects to Noongar elders past and present, and acknowledge their wisdom and advice in our teaching and cultural knowledge activities. There are no set protocols or wording for an Acknowledgement of Country, though often a statement may take the following forms: General:"Id like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today. Digital content Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Pibelmun Noongar would trade local goods such as: Booka/Boka/Bwoka: yongka (kangaroo) skin garment made from several skins of the female kangaroo and used for warmth and protection from the rain in winter. Burdun: a light, straight spear made from the mungurn (swamp wattle) collected from the local swamps. Choota: A possum or kangaroo skin bag used by the women to carry children or food collected while travelling between campsites. Gidgee-borryl: the dreaded quartz edged spear which in post-settlement times was glass tipped. 'We acknowledge the traditional owners of this country that we are standing on today and honour the Elders, past and present' Acknowledgement to Country provides the opportunity for everyone to give respect to the Noongar Ancestors and Elders of this land. The Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation welcomed fighters competing on UFC 284 in Perth. So whenever we come back now my cousin died the other day so we come back here, bring his spirit home because this is where he belong here. The water coming out of the hills would run off and build back up and run around a chain of lakes through where the metropolitan area is now. The boodjar (country) on which WAAMH acknowledges and respects their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region. The Joondalup region is part of Mooro country and is an important place for indigenous people. The kurrlongurr children who were taken away to missions the Stolen Generations were forbidden from speaking our Noongar language. Just wondering if you know of any language courses running for us wadgellas, round Perth. And then there was a big camp site, just on the side of the bank, just down from here, there's a girls' school built there now called Santa Maria College. Perth: West Australian Museum, 1989, p.18, [v] George Fletcher Moore, A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language in Common Use Amongst the Aborigines of Western Australia (London: Orr, 1842), http://books.google.com.au/books?id=1e8UAAAAYAAJ&dq=George%20Fletcher%20Moore&pg=PR1#v=onepage&q&f=false,p.68, [vi] Despatch from Hutt to Marquis of Normanby, 11 February 1840 with enclosure, British Parliamentary Papers, Papers relating to Aborigines, Australian Colonies, 1844, Colonies, Australia, Volume 8, Shannon University Press, 1968, pp.372-3, [vii] Bates, D. Aboriginal Perth: Bibbulmun Biographies and Legends. [viii] In this way, names, knowledge and the habitat of south-west plants and animals share an identity with, and are locally understood by Noongar people. "The purpose of the ceremony is to allow for the good spirits to welcome and protect visitors on Noongar land," Mr Winmar said. Permission to use the Nyoongar seasonal calendar is granted by "South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council". 2000. However, the language generally referred . Sit, listen and learn about Noongar language. Hello everyone. For instance, Ngooloormayup, known as Carnac Island; Meeandip, known as Garden Island; Gargangara north of Armadale; and Goolamrup, the suburb known as Kelmscott. Uh, that flour was mixed with zamia fruit, um, which was also ground into a flour, but you had to treat the zamias to get rid of the toxins out of them, because they can be quite poisonous and toxic to people and uh, you'd die if you didn't treat them right. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present. Ngany kurt, ngany karla our heart, our home. Boola Katitjin is located on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Noongar People. Curtin acknowledges the Nyungar people as the traditional owners of the land on which Curtin Perth is sited and a Welcome to Country is performed at all major Curtin public events. Sign up for inspiration straight to your inbox. Travelling was a big part of ceremony and a big part of trade in those days as well. Matter of fact I didnt learn to speak English properly until I was about seven. So it's estuarine and it's, um, subject to tidal movement as well. You can apply for membership here. . Starting at 10:15 am every day from 3 January to 5 February (excluding public holidays). click here to add your name to SWALSCs list. It wasnt swear words I was using. It was up to ten feet long and about one inch in diameter and made from the mungurn (swamp wattle). 9. Yoowart koorl ngaalang moort-moort djooroot. Description: The Welcome to Country project is located on Whadjuk Boodja, country of the Noongar people of South Western Australia. The Whadjuk are just one of the 14 tribes of the Noongar people. Respect . Over time, the Noongar people have adapted to the colonisation by Europeans, however their language has made its way into the local English vocabulary - most notably in the names of places, animals and plants. This acknowledgement pays respect to the traditional custodians, ancestors and continuing cultural, spiritual and religious practices of Noongar people. Nyoongar: An original inhabitant of the South-West (Jurien Bay to Esperance) of Western Australia that identifies as part of a community which shares a common language (Nyoongar), law and custom. "I acknowledge the Yued, Ballardong and Whadjuk Noongar culture and heritage within the Shire of Toodyay and pay my respect to Elders, past and present. Written by Lorina February 2, 2023 Print Australian Human Rights Commission An Acknowledgment of the Country is a way of showing respect for the Traditional Owners and can be given by both non-Indigenous people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are connected to another place. If it's opening that way, it's giving. You would have, uh, Point Walter. There are 14 identified dialect groups within this Nyoongar region. Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. And it's the mixing of sweet water from the hills and salt water from the sea. 7. A Welcome to Country ceremony is a traditional Aboriginal blessing, symbolising the traditional owners' consent to an event taking place on their land. The circle is an ancient symbol that is found across cultures over millennia. Thats the river people. Whadjuk is situated south of Yued and north of the Pinjarup dialectal groups. We welcome you to the land of the Whadjuk people which we have called home since the beginning of time. All images copyright their respective owners. 'Nollamara' Nollamara is the kangaroo paw. [xiii] The efforts of others who were conversant, and in some cases, fluent in local Noongar language, such as Brady, Hutt, Armstrong, Symmons and Bussell of Vasse, are acknowledged in many of the published works. This Swan River is called the 'Devil Yerrigan', and in the old way, 'Derbarl Yerrigan' and Derbarl means mixing. 1.3% of the City identify as Noongar, Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander peoples. See history of suburb names courtesy of Landgate, WA. Yuat Noongar would bring for trade the following items, among others: Borryl: quartz used for the sharp edges on the gidgee and tabba. Dowak: a short heavy stick used for hunting animals and birds. D-yuna: a fighting stick used during wars and in friendly contests. Gidgee: a spear about two and a half metres in length. Kylie: a flat, curved piece of wood (boomerang) used for hunting animals and birds. Miro: a throwing board used by Noongar people to propel the gidgee. They will talk to you about the process and where appropriate supply with you approved names. The name Alira/Allira/Allyra is said to be an Aboriginal word for the common Quartz stone. It was written by singer-songwriter Gina Williams, who released an album sung entirely in the Indigenous language of Western Australia. Courtesy The West Australian, 9 July 2002. Hello, welcome to my home country Ngalak kadatj ngaalang nedigar wer boordiya koora-koora wer yey! We acknowledge the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation as the traditional custodians of this country and its waters and that Murdoch University stands on Noongar country. Classes for Noongar and non-Noongar alike aid in the transmission of knowledge. It may be appropriate to incorporate an Acknowledgement of Country at events such as board and staff meetings, small training or information sessions, and other small events, for example. Noongar have always been engaged in trade right back well before settlement. Uh, you would have, um, the Causeway where the people cross there, we call it Matagarup, and, um, going down river, you would then get to North Fremantle, and there's an area in there that is important to us.