Supporting First NationsOn another beautiful Pourner day, Menang and Goreng families gathered at Boxwood Hill near Marra Bilya to continue their work on developing Marra Bilya Moort – Wangee Boodja (Marra River Family – Talking Country). This project, funded by the State Natural Resource Management Office through a grant to Gondwana Link, has brought together Menang, Goreng and Wirlomin Noongar families with close connections to the Marra (Pallinup) River to “listen to the river to hear what it needs”.
Led by Elders from at least 7 families, yarning circles have been free-flowing and wide ranging about how to reawaken the river and how it all connects – flows, families, stories, Boodja and caring for Country.
There have been five large gatherings so far, mostly on the Boxwood Hill property of Alison, Rob, Lisa and PJ (thanks again for your generosity!), with one meeting at Gnowangerup.
In parallel with these large gatherings, conversations with individual family Elders are taking place with Shandell Cummings as part of Elder led cultural mapping to inform some of the actions needed now and into the future.
The conversations we have had so far are now being assembled as a draft plan (called Marra Bilya Moort – Wangee Boodja). Once the Elders who make up the Marra Steering Group are happy that this reflects the wishes and aspirations of all the participants, we will head to the next step: inviting potential supporters and collaborators to join the process and turn their aspirations into solid actions that can be delivered over the next decade and more, building on landcare work that’s already underway.
While the plan is the “deliverable outcome” from this project, people have expressed their pleasure at the process itself.
Some memorable quotes include:
“The old people are looking down on us and putting their hands together on the progress we have made so far” (Tassie Hayward)
“Ever since this group has come together, I have seen the River starting to come alive again. The ancestors will be proud” (Robbie Miniter)
“No-one can override the power of Boodja, putting us back together. It’s so great to see this unity in the community again. It’s like the old days with it all on the table like it should be.” (Eugene Eades)
“This is an amazing group representing a long link to the river. So far (those links) have been respected and not argued against.” (Lynette Knapp)
We will be sure to let you know what happens next!
PHOTO: Some of the participants at our first meeting, July 2024. Photo by Paula Deegan.
