This is the story of the Noongar people's fight to have their native title rights recognised in the south west — a fight led to the South West Native Title Settlement. This Settlement formally recognises that, since time immemorial, the Noongar people have maintained a living cultural, spiritual, familial and social relationship with Noongar boodja.
Noongar Recognition Act
The South West Native Title Settlement involves a significant transfer of lands and resources to Noongar people, to support a strong and unified Noongar Nation. But it began with the Noongar (Koorah, Nitja, Boordahwan) (Past, Present, Future) Recognition Act 2016, an act of the state parliament that recognises Noongar people as the traditional owners and custodians of the south-west of the State — and our significant and unique contribution to the heritage, cultural identity, community and economy of WA. It was the first statute in WA to incorporate an Aboriginal language.
The Noongar Recognition Act is an acknowledgement of the Noongar people’s survival, strength and hope for the future.
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.