Phase I (2022)
In 2022, Noongar Elders and community members came together to explore the meanings and stories behind three Noongar place names in the City of Melville; Goolugatup, Willagee and Jenalup (Blackwall Reach).The exhibition
Ngala Bidi Wongi Boodjar – Our Paths Talking Country was launched in October 2022 and was the culmination of Phase I.
Guided by Professor Len Collard’s extensive research, which shows that most Noongar place names are actually sentences, participants used a decoding process with specially developed word cards to break down the names and try to unlock their ancient meanings.
Noongar place names were originally written down by non-Aboriginal people, so over time many of the words have been misinterpreted and their meanings misunderstood.
CAN’s Place Names decoding process places Noongar knowledge and language firmly at the forefront of this exploration.
“What we are doing is recolonialising, because it places Noongar kaartadjin (knowledge, language and culture) as the authority and puts the historical documents written by wadjellas as secondary.” Professor Len Collard Through language decoding workshops and creative activities, Elders and community members shared their stories, histories, culture and kaartdijin as a powerful act of reclamation. The ancient meanings of these place names are starting to reveal themselves, but further research and uncovering of Noongar kaartadjin will continue before a final consensus is reached.
View Ngala Bidi Wongi Boodjar Digital Collages A series of eight digital collages are the collaborative artwork of individual participants, layered and reworked through creative engagement.
Listen to Ngala Bidi Wongi Boodjar Poems This collection of poetry captures the essence of place - a reflection of the community’s strong connection to boodjar (country).
Read Ngala Bidi Wongi Boodjar Exhibition Catalogue