Topic:
Noongar Boodja

Yarning about fire

This story offers so much! It is a heart-warming yet serious yarn that shines more light on a way forward with fire. Here's Uncle Aden: "Kaarl (fire) was always part of our life ... We had a good life in camps and the kaarl made sure we were alright. We had all the comforts thanks to the fire." Join Uncle Aden Eades, Aunty Eliza Woods and PhD student Ursula Rodrigues as they sit and yarn about fire.

Averil and her brother Jack Williams on country at Anderson Lake sharing their cultural knowledge

Aunty Averil Dean: Rich rewards from family, culture and country

Averil is immensely proud of her Noongar culture, and teaching school children about it has been an important part of her life. Growing up in a strong, loving family, Averil’s home life was happy. But during this time, she knows that older family members were experiencing major oppression, and she remembers the painful school yard taunt of ‘nigger’.

Ezzard Flowers: Power drawn from his reconnection with country

Ezzard’s life began with family, culture and being on country, but he became a member of the Stolen Generation when he was taken from family at age eight and placed in missions for six years. Reconnecting with his family and country and the importance of working together for Mother Boodja are moving and powerful threads in Ezzard's story.

Art, poetry and their place in an ancient landscape

Bill Bunbury OAM speaks to artist NIKKI GREEN and poet RENEÉ PETTITT-SCHIPP about their award-winning imagery and words and how they engage us with both the region’s ancient landscapes and the challenge of managing human impacts. Their works also reflect respect for the land’s Noongar Custodians.

Sayah Drummond: a refreshing perspective on making a difference

"I am a 'people person', so working with the community and working with passionate people is just really energising ... I’ve learned that a lot of environmental recovery is done by volunteers because they care, they make the effort to learn, and they truly make a difference to their little patch."

Giving fire back to Goreng Country

"Uncle Aden Eades articulated the Elders were feeling like their “tyres were going flat” and their presence was token. This conversation centred on the need to properly fund a thorough cultural assessment before any burn."

Ezzard Flowers: Reconnection and collaboration

As a child, Ezzard was taken from family and placed in a mission. Years later he faced the challenge of reconnecting to family and country, and charting his life. Now he’s a Noongar Elder with a powerful story about working together for Mother boodja - country.

Carol Pettersen: Storylines

This is the compelling story of Carol Pettersen, a Menang-Ngadju Elder. Aunty Carol was born at the Gnowangerup Mission and raised in the bush around Jerramungup with her family, which she describes as “one of the most glorious times of my life”. She has spent much of her life in the Albany area, on her traditional country and her story offers many cultural insights.

Line of people walking up red rocky ridge

Eugene Eades: Coming back to Country

Eugene Eades is a Goreng - Menang Elder, and since 2006 he has played a pivotal role in creating a powerful healing and cross-cultural gathering place on a former farm, now called Nowanup.

Mallee sized vegetation landscape

Lynette Knapp and Alison Lullfitz: Connecting on Country

Lynette Knapp is a Merningar Elder and Adjunct Research Fellow and Dr Alison Lullfitz, is a Research Associate, both at the University of Western Australia.

Woodland of multi-coloured wandoo trees with thick undergrowth

Linking modern science with Indigenous knowledge to care for the land

Robyn Williams from The Science Show interviews Stephen Hopper, Professor of Biodiversity about linking modern science with Indigenous knowledge to care for country.

A conversation with Jack Williams and Averil Dean: stories about country

Drawn from a 2004 talk by Noongar Elders Jack Williams and Averil Dean featuring stories about country, including Boola Miyel (Bluff Knoll).

Ancient range reveals totems

WENDY BARRETT talks to Vernice Gillies, Larry Blight and Ron Grey about the powerful connections between the Porongurup Range and the Menang people.

Nowanup: Healing land, healing people

Under the extraordinary leadership and dedication of Elder Eugene Eades, Nowanup has become a beacon of hope, a force for cross-cultural sharing and a powerful healing place.

Nowanup: Healing country, healing people

This case study from the WA Landcare Network tells the story of the collaboration between the Noongar community and environmental groups that has resulted in Nowanup, a genuinely special place where country is being restored to health and people are coming back to the land.

Healing country on the Gondwana Link

From Greening Australia a short film about the restoration of habitat in the shadow of the Stirling Ranges National Park, in partnership with the Nowanup Rangers.