gnaala
booroong
wangkiny
wongi nidja
nyiny
our spirits’
stories are
still there…
the coobarjeet story
_
My Kabarli Ngangk told us that this little
bird was a messenger bird along with the
djidi djidi.
The Noongar Bworan Kabarli would
know what kind of message was being
brought – they would know if it was happy
news or if it was bad news.
During this project the coobarjeet visited
us out at Pumphreys Bridge. It was a
sad time for family that day, but this little
coobarjeet came to us with a message.
It is important that we tell and share our
living History and Culture. Our Bworan
Kabarli’s stories must be told and
respected.
mami ngooranda great grandfather
nyidogreat grandmother
bworan-dem grandfather
kabarli-moyiran grandmother
bworan old man, male Elder or old people
kabarli old women, female Elder or old people
ngangk mother
coobarjeet robin red breast
djidi djidi willy wagtail
boodjaland
Benil Flats
cultural mapping and
community governance
_
In 2011 Community Arts Network (CAN WA) and Gnaala Karla Booja (GKB)
partnered in the Cultural Mapping and Community Governance (CM&CG)
program, which was funded by the Department of Families, Housing,
Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).
CM&CG draws on creative practice and embeds culture as the core of
community level decision-making. During a series of workshops for the
CM&CG program, GKB began developing a Noongar governance framework.
GKB agreed that Elders’ knowledge and stories are the foundations of cultural
governance.
As an organisation CAN WA aims to inspire and mobilise communities to
explore and express their own unique culture through art production, cultural
programs, skills development and funding opportunities.
Gnaala booroong wangkiny wongi nidja nyiny Our spirits’ stories are still
there… is produced by CAN WA and the Gnaala Karla Booja community. Pilar
Kasat, CAN WA’s Managing Director, introduces the CM&CG project. Geri
Hayden, CAN WA’s Aboriginal Arts and Culture Coordinator in Narrogin and a
GKB member, is the interviewer.
Gnaala booroong wangkiny wongi nidja nyiny is three people’s yarns about
two significant sites on GKB land: Pumphreys Bridge and Wandering Mission.
geri hayden: interviewer
_
I was born in a tin shed at the
back of the Beverley Hospital on
7 May 1955. My childhood days
were spent with my two brothers
John and Roger on the Brookton
Reserves on the outskirts of towns.
I had the privilege of growing
up with my Mami Ngooranda
and Nyido, Doorum and Kate
Bennell and Bworan-dem and
Kabarli-moyiran, Diddley and
Doongi Bolton. To me those
years were precious because of
the strong family kinship.
With this project, I had the pleasure of interviewing my Bworan, Kabarli
and my Ngangk. The interviews took me on a personal journey that left me
in tears and feeling angry…but then we would laugh and be happy. I was
excited hearing those stories and I really want those stories told. I will cherish
and respect the stories that Mum Hayden, Sima Khan-White and Pop Matty
shared with me that day, and they will stay with me always.
aunty janet hayden
_
‘I was born at Rusty Bridge, beside the
creek. I’m a river baby,’ Aunty Janet
tells us during Gnaala booroong
wangkiny wongi nidja nyiny.
pop matthew abraham
_
Pop Abraham is the first Elder’s voice we hear in Gnaala booroong
wangkiny wongi nidja nyiny. At 84 years old, Pop is the only remaining
sibling of fourteen children.
Pop was born in Narrogin and grew up at Pumphreys Bridge, boodja
acknowledged as Abraham country. His family has a deep sense of belonging
to that land.
Pop talks about his life, his family’s beginnings at 40 Mile Brook, his parents
and his childhood, his sporting prowess, the impact of colonialism and the
1905 Act and his culture.
Having his story recorded means Pop’s rich memories of Pumphreys Bridge
will be shared with his children and grandchildren for generations to come.
As a Kilkarni girl, she talks about
growing up in Brookton, and the special
cultural rituals the women used for
birthing and caring for their babies.
Her beautiful and generous storytelling
includes memories of her grandparents
and parents. Joyously, she shares
how they easily nourished their family
because of an inherent resourcefulness
and respect for the land, and how this
has changed over time.
Aunty Janet acknowledges Pumphreys
Bridge as meaningful to all Noongar
people and reminds us of the
importance of sharing Noongar oral
history because Gnaala booroong
wangkiny wongi nidja nyiny.
Sima Khan-White was born in Duralling near
Narrogin and married into the Khan family
at Wandering Mission. She has recently
remarried, becoming Mrs Sima White.
As a member of the Stolen Generation, Sima’s
story represents the resilience of Aboriginal
people and the strength of Aboriginal culture.
This was the first time Sima told this story and
afterwards she ‘felt free, like a weight had been
lifted.’
As Liz Hayden (GKB Elder) explained during a
CM&CG workshop, ‘In order to heal, you need go
to the source of pain.’
Sima returned to Wandering Mission, the source
of pain, to begin the healing process. As her
voice echoes in the empty halls of the Mission,
the rain falls and Sima shares her story.
In December 2011 Sima White passed away.
Late last year when Sima listened to her
recorded story she expressed an urgent desire
for this story to be told.
CAN WA extends its deepest sympathy to
Sima’s husband Jeff, and family.
This publication aims to honour Sima’s life story
as she wished.
sima khan-white
_
Lake Navarino, April 2011