[recital E]
Noonakoort moort nitja burranginge noongar boodja
Noonakoort moort kwomba
Djinunge nitja mungarrt — koorah
Noonakoort moort yirra yarkinje kwomba
noongar boodja
Koorah — nitja — boordahwan
Noonakoort moort
yarkinje noongar boodja
Nyidiung koorah barminje noonakoort moort
Wierrnbirt
domberrinje
Noonakoort moort koort boodja
Nitja gnulla moorditj karrl boodja
All our Noongar people stand here on Noongar land.
Past, present and future.
We stand strong on our land.
The mungart tree symbolises our strength and
survival.
All of our people stand firm on our land.
Our people are here to
stay — we will always be.
We, the Noongar people, are the traditional owners of South West Western
Australia, and have been since before time immemorial. As the First People of
South West Western Australia, we continue to practise the laws and customs of
our culture. Through this culture, we continue to hold rights,
responsibilities and obligations in relation to our people, traditional lands
and waters.
We, the Noongar people, are the largest single Aboriginal cultural bloc on the
Australian continent. We belong to one of the oldest surviving living cultures
on this earth. As a people, we have a common ancestral language, and a similar
history and spirituality. We know that our traditional country is south and
west of a line that stretches from Geraldton in the north to Cape Arid in the
south-east, and that the spirit of this place can never be conquered.
Noongar culture, spirit and economy have always depended on the resources of
Noongar boodja. Families still return to the biddi (paths) of our ancestors.
Our people continue to refer to natural landmarks, especially hills and
waterways when describing which families belong to different areas of Noongar
boodja. Although barriers may exist, it is still in our hearts, in our blood,
it is still our country.
Our living culture, which is long and continuing in this part of the world,
begins with Noongar people. This is the opportunity for all Western
Australians to experience the ancient tradition of respect, relationships and
reciprocity with Noongar people. We have survived.
Note:
The Noongar nation is made up of a number of different groups. Variations in
pronunciation and spelling occur amongst the Amangu, Yued/Yuat, Whadjuk/Wajuk,
Binjareb/Pinjarup, Wardandi, Balardong/Ballardong, Nyakinyaki, Wilman,
Wirlomin, Ganeang, Bibulmun/Piblemen, Mineng, Goreng, Wudjari and Njunga. For
instance, the word “Noongar” can also be spelled
“Nyungar”, “Nyoongar” and “Nyoongah”.