A Glance at the Manners, and Language of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of Western Australia; With a Short Vocabulary, Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal. 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. Whadjuk People is also the name of the registeredNative Title claim 2011. ), Hesperian Press, Carlisle, 1992, cited in Vinnicombe, Patricia. Koolark means Home in the 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]). The wonna was fired for hardness and was used for digging, killing animals and fighting with other women. This Aboriginal ritual recognises the area of land where Whadjuk Noongar people traditionally lived, hunted and gathered (Moort Boodja). The Noongar people have lived in the south-west corner of Western Australia for at least 45,000 years. To explain that men are hunting kangaroo, in Noongar we say: maam yonga ngardanginy. We pay our respects to their enduring and dynamic culture and the leadership of Noongar elders past and present. Goonininup: A Site Complex on the Southern Side of Mount Eliza: An Historical Perspective of Land Use and Associations in the Old Swan Brewery Area. 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. It can be given by both non-Indigenous people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Whadjuk Claim for Native Title was made in September 2006. For information on Welcome to Country please contact the Community Capacity Team on 9806 5138. This video must not be used as a substitute for an official, in-person, welcome to country in any situation or context whatsoever. 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. We acknowledge our Ancestors and Elders from long ago until today. Acknowledgement of Country 6. Nyinyak ngaalang nidja kedela ngaala mereny. https://www.ufc.com/video/ufc-284-athletes-experience-welcome-country-ceremony-perth, UFC 284 Athletes Experience Welcome To Country Ceremony In Perth, Viviane Arajo Fight Week Interview | UFC 285, What It's Like To Fight Jon Jones? Yagan was born circa 1795 and died in July 1833. Participating in an Acknowledgement of Country is an effective way of helping students develop awareness and respect for the ongoing relationship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (the Traditional Custodians) have with their land. But I wasnt swearing. I am delighted to lead the Shire of Toodyay's commitment towards . respect to the traditional custodians of the land, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation and their Elders past and present. Welcome to Boola Katitjin - our sustainable, inclusive and tech-enabled learning space. I begin by acknowledging we are meeting on Noongar land and I pay tribute to our traditional owners. [xv] The spelling is as it was written by the original non-Noongar authors rather than the current accepted spelling. Ngany waangkaniny. 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. Whadjuk Welcome to Country WelcomeToCountry 414 subscribers Subscribe 121 Share 18K views 8 years ago IMPORTANT: The following video has been compiled for educational purposes only. When we look at the, the city and we think what parts of this city are really important. A key action included in the RAP is building respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures . Explore true natural beauty with spectacular flora and unique wildlife. The location is North Thomson Bay, next to the Visitor Centre. So it's estuarine and it's, um, subject to tidal movement as well. Meeukang Warangka ba Kenniny means dancing and singing in the moonlight in the language of the Whadjuk Noongar people, so get ready . Dive in and explore the wonders of this true aquatic playground. From Wednesday 1 March 2023, Stay Rottnest will no longer accept in-person bookings. 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. Bridge (ed. I know Noongar words. I say dembart yaarl koorl Grandfather come here or deman yaarl koorl Grandmother come here. The Rainbow Serpent - Wandjina Tribes. And next season, there would be waving with beautiful robust seeds,, we would collect them and grind them on rocks and wood and make flour. Karla koorliny. See history of suburb names courtesy of Landgate, WA. 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. Nyoongar country spans from Leeman in the northwest to beyond Cape Arid in the southeast, in the southwest of Australia. Adopted into the local English language are also many Noongar plant and animal names: Marri, Karri, Jarrah, Quenda (Bandicoot), Quokka and Jilgie. While Noongar is identified as a single language, there are several ways of pronouncing it, which is reflected in the spelling: Noongar, Nyungar, Nyoongar, Nyoongah, Nyungah, Nyugah, Yungar and Noonga. The Common Ground Team An Acknowledgement of Country is a way to acknowledge and pay respect to First Nations peoples as the Traditional Owners and ongoing custodians of the land. This week we paid our respects to the Whadjuk Noongar people and were warmly welcomed to our new HQ with a Smoking Ceremony . [v], 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, Many places in the south-west have been named by Europeans, after European towns and people, such as Perth and Albany. Dyarlgarro Beeliar is known as the Canning River and Derbal Yiragan, the Perth estuary waters. Whadjuk is the name of Traditional Owners of the Perth region including Fremantle. Today, Yagan is an iconic figure in the fight for Noongar rights and recognition. 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. 9. Describing many newly discovered, important, and fertile districts, with observations on the moral and physical condition of the Aboriginal Inhabitants &c. &c., T. and W. Boone, London, 1841. Sharna Walley is a Noongar woman born and raised in Perth. Nyungar wangkiny or speaking and understanding our language is central to our identity. Wundju Koolark Welcome home We are situated on the land of the Whadjuk Noongar people, the Noongar people remain the traditional peoples and cultural custodians of their land. An Acknowledgment of Country is a way of demonstrating awareness of and respect for Aboriginal protocols and for the Aboriginal people on whose land an occasion is being held. Courtesy of Michelle Nelson-Cox. Welcome to Country ceremonies are an acknowledgement and recognition of the rights of the Noongar Peoples to Noongar Land. IMPORTANT: The following video has been compiled for educational purposes only. Whilst our lands are known by these other names, our own remain in place, connecting us with our ancient homelands. Noongar language has also been adapted into the local English vocabulary, notably with places, plants and animals. Where we get the confusion sometimes with our Nyungar language is the writing down of it. 2000. Noongar people are often invited to speak in language at opening ceremonies and at places which have long been sacred to us. In 1833, Robert Lyon published articles on Noongar customs manners and dialects. This was orchestrated by the government of the day to abolish Noongar language and identity. The wedjella cut his body up into pieces and put it around Australia. So we cry from our lungs and we laugh from our lungs. In Noongar language, Fremantle, Rottnest, Perth and Albany are known as Walyalup, Wadjemup, Gabbi Darbal and Kinjarling. Learn about the rich history and culture the island holds. Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation Membership of SWALSC does not mean you are automatically a member of your regional corporation. Starting at 10:15 am every day from 3 January to 5 February (excluding public holidays). Noonak moorditj, noonook ngaangk yira. Sign up for regular updates from ABC Education, Your information is being handled in accordance with the. Permission to use the Nyoongar seasonal calendar is granted by "South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council". Knowing the Noongar language can open up a new world into our culture and also give a sense of place. It was written by singer-songwriter Gina Williams, who released an album sung entirely in the Indigenous language of Western Australia. 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. And I looked at her, you know, she said, You, you! We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owner: A person recognised as a member of a dialect group whose lands lie within the region; that is, they are accepted by the community as belonging to one of the relevant families, primarily though socially validated genealogical connections. Privacy Statement | Site Map | Contact, South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, Collaborative and Responsive Engagement (CARE) Hub. Whadjuk: is one of 14 dialectal groups of Nyoongar people. Well, that's where our people used to live. Source: Shane Pickett, 1998; Art Gallery . Further, it provides an increasing awareness and recognition of Australia's Aboriginal peoples and cultures. Speaking Noongar immediately lets everyone know where we come from. An early colonial also observed and recorded our Noongar tradition: I have reason to believe that their [Nyungar] history and geography are handed down from generation to generation orally. Robert Menli Lyon, 1833. Boola Katitjin is located on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Noongar People. Some words may only be known in one region of Noongar country, particularly plants, which are unique to the local climate and soil type. However, the language generally referred . Yet, there are nearly as many places that have been given Noongar names. I used to listen to those stories and I remember [grandmother Yurleen Garlett] telling one of her nephews a story that happened there. Ingrid Cumming - Custodian & Traditional Owner of Whadjuk Noongar Country Ingrid Cumming is a Whadjuk Balardong Noongar woman from Fremantle, Western Australia and recognised young leader within the First Nations community. The body of work explores a circle motif that has been . Come on a journey through the colonial history of Perth. Koort is heart. We acknowledge the invasion, atrocities and subsequent acts that traumatise our . undertake a Welcome to Country, if it is taking place in Noongar country; recommendation on a staff member to contact to organise a Welcome to Country if the event will be held outside of Noongar country; assistance with wording and pronunciation of Acknowledgment Statements in Noongar country, through delivery the of Noongar Not to the cemetery where they are buried but here because their spirits are in this water. The Difference Between Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country Kaya, wanju nidja Noongar boodja (Hello, welcome to Noongar country) Kaya, wanju nidja Noongar boodja (Hello, . Noongar people have lived in harmony with the natural environment . For further information view Welcome to and Acknowledgement of Country Protocols, "We would like to acknowledge this land that we meet on today is the traditional lands of the Whadjuk people and that we respect their spiritual relationship with their country.We also acknowledge the Whadjuk people as theTraditional Owners of the greater Walyalup area and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still important to the living Whadjuk people today.". WAAMH acknowledges and respects their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region. All rights reserved. Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours & Experiences Nyoondool wart boola waangkiny wer djinang ngaalang kwobidak boodjar. It was up to ten feet long and about one inch in diameter and made from the mungurn (swamp wattle). Biladurang the Platypus. The subject comes before the verb in English and the object follows, but in Noongar, the word order is subject object verb. Some Noongar place names and their meanings are in Noongar Wangkinyiny. We wish to acknowledge the custodians of this land, the Wadjuk (Perth region) people of the Nyoongar nation and their Elders past, present and future. While missions set out to break the chain of learning Noongar culture and language, grouping Noongar people together allowed parents and Elders to continue to pass language on to the younger generation. The power of stories being passed down orally is often criticized by people in today's society. I know who Hagan is. Maaman maar barang ngaalang, Noonak waangk birdiyar. Description: The Welcome to Country project is located on Whadjuk Boodja, country of the Noongar people of South Western Australia. A "Welcome to Country" also reinforces . Share your own Rottnest Island experiences. And there was a reef extending out there before it was blasted by C. Y. O'Connor. There are several language groups that make up the Noongar, including the Whadjuk, who are the traditional owners of the land around Perth. '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. Bonu-Wongie - Message Stick - located on Mandurah's Eastern Foreshore, this sculpture represents the invitation from the Winjan Aboriginal Community to the City of Mandurah to work together. This, our Beeliargu, is the river people. 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. Ngany moort koorliny noonook. *Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that our website contains images of deceased persons. This acknowledgement pays respect to the traditional custodians, ancestors and continuing cultural, spiritual and religious practices of Noongar people. Travelling was a big part of ceremony and a big part of trade in those days as well. A maam (man) calls his yok koorta. They contain a word list of local Noongar people from the Victoria Plains. The tide comes in and the river comes up and goes down. The booklet at the link below sets out a comprehensive set of Noongar protocols . The Whadjuk Noongar name for the Canning River is the Djarlgarro Beelier. Pinjarup Noongar would trade the following items at the Mandura: Burdun: a light gidgee, highly prized for the elasticity of the timber. Durda-dyer: a skin of a dingo tail, worn on the upper part of the forehead as an ornament. Ngow-er: a small tuft of feathers tied to a stick and worn in the hair for ornamentation. Niggara: a human hair girdle worn around the waist. Each year the City celebrates such important dates like NAIDOC Week and National Reconciliation Week which celebrate the history, culture and achievements of our Whadjuk Noongar . Kooranyi noonak korl. . Much of the biodiversity in Noongar country is not found anywhere else in the world. The custom of teaching Noongar continues to be handed down from Elders to children. Courtesy The West Australian, 9 July 2002. Ngalak kadatj ngaalang nedigar wer boordiya koora-koora wer yey! Arranging a Welcome to Country ceremony, which acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land, shows respect for Aboriginal people. 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. There are several language groups that make up the Noongar, including the Whadjuk, who are the traditional owners of the land around Perth. Wirba: a heavy club traded from the northern areas. Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre is unable to provide services or arrangements for Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country. These words are used everyday but they sound slightly different from region to region. Welcome to Country Acknowledgment of Country Acknowledgment of Country An Acknowledgment of Country is a way of demonstrating awareness of and respect for Aboriginal protocols and for the Aboriginal people on whose land an occasion is being held. Whadjuk Biddi . ancient Noongar life as it was since the beginning of time, through stories, song and ceremonies. But of course with the Nyungar culture we are basically all the same but there are some differences with regards to our language. The Dictionary also explains the sounds, spelling and pronunciation of Noongar words.[xiv]. [ii] It differs slightly from Tindales in that Horton removed the boundary between Wudjari and Njunja on the south coast near Esperance and named the group Wudjari. 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. Whadjuk Elders & Speakers Welcome to Country List keyboard_arrow_right. live, learn and work. For instance, Ngooloormayup, known as Carnac Island; Meeandip, known as Garden Island; Gargangara north of Armadale; and Goolamrup, the suburb known as Kelmscott. 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. 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. Digital content Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Noonakoort kaartdijin wangkiny deman, maam, ngarnk wer boordier kura kura. Click here for more information on the Walyalup Aboriginal History. So teacher come along to me and she said, You stop that talk. 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. Ngany moort koorliny. When permission was granted the hosting tribe would welcome the visitors, offering them safe passage and protection of their spiritual being during the journey. Williams believes that if you live on Noongar country, you . Contact us. The name Alira/Allira/Allyra is said to be an Aboriginal word for the common Quartz stone. All the others would cross at Matagarup the Causeway mark, um, means the water only comes up to your knees. Bring them home and then you sing to them. 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. The Acknowledgement Song was first written on Whadjuk Noongar country. 'Perth's original people are the Whadjuk, who lived within a 50km radius around Perth. Noonak waangk, yoowarl koorl, birdiyar ngaala boodja noonook woorn noonak kooranyi kaalak. We look forward to meeting you and sharing our knowledge and culture with you on a tour through Whadjuk Country. Your Noongar guide will take you on an ancient Dreamtime journey with its origins in the night sky. The diary of Augustus Gilbert. I was out alright. Culture is formed. Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. Journal of Biogeography 27: 1257-1268. Our program focuses on preserving the karlup (home or heart country) and the traditional knowledge of Noongar people. Fremantle itself we'd call 'Walyalup' and Walyalup your lungs. We look forward to welcoming you to Wadjemup / Rottnest Island soon. 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. The major cities and towns within the Whajuk region include Perth, Fremantle, Joondalup, Armadale, Toodyay, Wundowie, Bullsbrook and Chidlow. Shane Abdullah, Richard Walley and James Webb perform at National Native Title Conference Welcome to Country 2008 . For example, Langford Aboriginal Association in Perth offers regular classes in Noongar language for adults and children. The Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation welcomed fighters competing on UFC 284 in Perth. 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. Ngaalak nyinya nyinyak, baalang ngiyan waarn wara ngaalang. 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. 7. Any individual can perform an Acknowledgment of Country, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. Nguny djurapin, nguny koort djurapin wanganiny noonakoort. This acknowledgement pays respect to the traditional custodians, ancestors and continuing cultural, spiritual and religious practices of Noongar people. Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country Guidelines and . Overall there are many common words in Noongar, for example: kaya = hello, moort = family, boodja = country and yongka = kangaroo. Beeliargu moort. They might go to some of their other relations, they dont call them uncles they call them konk and their brother-in-law they call them ngoorldja. The location is North Thomson Bay, next to the Visitor Centre. PO Box 237 8. And walk down. In the conflict that ensued, Yagan was both feared and admired by Europeans as a freedom fighter defending his land. Copyright South West Aboriginal Land & Sea Council 2023. Meet at the first pavilion. It can be given by both non-Indigenous people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The names of many south-west towns are Noongar in origin: Gidgegannup (place to make spears), Ongerup (place of the male kangaroo) and Goomalling (place to find possum). Today, there are many Noongar language classes in schools and TAFE. There were some fellas from the north; they came for some ceremony. Some organisations have developed guides to help you understand more about the protocols and when they are required or appropriate: Search our scholarships to see the ones you could be eligible for. Metadata Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). A warm welcome to Noongar land. [xii] The memoirs of Bishop Rosendo Salvado from New Norcia were published in 1851. Acknowledgements can also be in written form. Welcome to country Some Noongar place names in Perth are: Balga, Beeliar, Willagee and Mirrabooka. Nyinya nyinyak ngaalang ngaala wara waarniny. She didnt have to tell me twice to get out. [xi] Notes from Greys Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North West and Western Australia, Vol. Research and content by Jason Barrow. Nyoongar calendar. The main difference between the Noongar language groups is pronunciation, but because the groups are geographically and ecologically distinctive, there are also regional vocabularies. The circle is an ancient symbol that is found across cultures over millennia. . Welcome! L. and W. Boone, London, 1840, [xii] Grey, G. Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, During the years 1837, 38 and 39, under the authority of Her Majestys Government. Whadjuk Country. vol 1, no 13, 30th March, 1833, pp.51-52, [x] Moore, G.F. Diary of ten years eventful life of an early settler in Western Australia; and also, A descriptive vocabulary of the language of the Aborigines, London: M Wallbrook, 1884, [xi] Grey, G. A Vocabulary of the Dialects of South West Australia. 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. Traditional Owners can talk for country by performing aWelcome to CountryorSmoking Ceremonyand should be consulted about its use. Find out more about our commitment to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. 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]. (Singing in language) And then chuck sand to land in the water so he can smell you. This Swan River is called the 'Devil Yerrigan', and in the old way, 'Derbarl Yerrigan' and Derbarl means mixing. Listen old fellow, listen for em, bring them home. They had come to trade and they brought some medicine and some fire. 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. Contact Nyungar Tours Phone: (+61) 477 442 515 Email: info@nyungartours.com.au Website: www.nyungartours.com.au Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours & Experiences The tour runs for 70 minutes leaving at 1pm Monday - Saturday. We are happy, our heart is happy to be speaking with you all. Alira/Allira/Allyra. 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). [viii] Beard, J.S., Chapman, A.R. Classes for Noongar and non-Noongar alike aid in the transmission of knowledge. We dont want any heathens in this school. Efforts have been made in our Noongar community to re-invigorate language. Today, much has changed, and these protocols have been adapted to contemporary circumstances. Thats the river people. 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. 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. The late Tom Bennell (Yelakitj), shared this story about moort (family) relationship names and how moort would have wangkiny (talked) with each other: Deman is the name for Grandmother and Dembart is the name for Grandfather. It was known as the Mandura (Mandurah derives its name from this activity) which was a type of fair or meeting place where goods or presents were exchanged amongst the Noongar in the south-west during the Bunuru or summer season. The future of learning and teaching is here, Security, Terrorism & Counterterrorism online, Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirements, Keep Carnabys Flying Ngoolarks Forever, The political economy of governance reform, Marine and Freshwater Research Laboratory, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commitment, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Talent Register, Find out more about our world-leading research, See how you could benefit from collaborating with us, Welcome to Country Acknowledgement of Country (PDF), Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country protocols, Noongar Protocols for Welcome to Country (PDF), TEQSA ID: PRV12163 (Australian University), South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council . View the full Colonisation of Perth collection, The Traditional Owners of Perth: Traditional Whadjuk lifestyle, Why the Swan River? Crossing into another tribes Country required a request for permission to enter. 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.