About us

Noongar people (Noongar meaning 'person') are one of the largest Aboriginal cultural blocks in Australia.  Noongar country covers the entire south-western portion of Western Australia. The boundary commences on the west coast at a point north of Jurien Bay, proceeds roughly easterly to a point approximately north of Moora and then roughly south-east to a point on the southern coast between Bremer Bay and Esperance.There is no evidence that there has been any other group than Noongar in the south-west.

 

Norman Tindale's map of tribal boundaries was published in 1974. It shows Noongar country as having 14 'tribal groups' with firm boundaries, which form limits of normal social and economic cooperation. Tindale identified communication between the groups through possession of a common language, which has led to them being known as 'dialectal' groups of Noongar language. Noongar explained

 

Currently, there is no other authoritative public website that showcases Noongar history and culture. The Kaartdijin Noongar-Sharing Noongar Culture website has been compiled by the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC). This is a not for profit organisation established for the purpose of representing Noongar people in native title and related matters. See SWALSC corporate website. With support from Lotterywest, SWALSC is developing this website to share aspects of Noongar history and culture with the wider community.

 

There is also a members only website which has a log in for SWALSC members. Noongar people have ownership of their own knowledge and culture. Not all cultural history and knowledge can be shared. It is up to Noongar people (SWALSC members) to decide what can be shared.  When it is decided to share information, strict protocols and policies are followed and the use of this knowledge should be respected, in addition to requirements under the Copyright Act 1968 as amended. The objectives of the Kaartdijin Project are:

 

 

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