Noongar (Koorah, Nitja, Boordahwan) (Past, Present, Future) Recognition Act 2016

[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.