Leslie Massey
Aboriginal Australians is a broad term that includes many regional groups that often identify under names from local Aboriginal languages. In Western Australia, the Noongar people, also known as Nyungar, are one of the largest Aboriginal cultural blocks in the country. The Noongar people have lived in the south-west of Western Australia for more than 45,000 years, with the oldest evidence of their existence in the area dating back over 38,000 years. The Noongar language group is made up of 13-14 different dialects, with only 5 remaining today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Aboriginal groups in Western Australia | Noongar, Anangu |
| Noongar subgroups | Amangu, Yued/Yuat, Whadjuk/Wajuk, Binjareb/Pinjarup, Wardandi, Balardong/Ballardong, Nyakinyaki, Wilman, Ganeang, Bibulmun/Piblemen, Mineng, Goreng, Wudjari, Njunga |
| Noongar population | 28,000 (self-identified) |
| Noongar language speakers | 8,000 (Neo-Nyungar) |
| Noongar dialect groups | 13 originally, 5 remain |
| Noongar country | Covers the entire south-western portion of Western Australia |
| Noongar history | Lived in the area for over 45,000 years |
| Noongar culture | Influenced by their six seasons – Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba and Kambarang |
| Noongar art | Influenced by changes to Noongar culture after European settlement in 1829 |
| Noongar Native Title claims | Six claims over Perth and the south-west of Western Australia |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Noongar people, one of the largest Aboriginal cultural blocks in Australia
- Noongar language, endangered with few fluent speakers
- Noongar art, influenced by their six seasons
- Perth City, located in the ancient country of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people
- The Nyoongar peoples' contact with seafaring visitors before British colonisation
Noongar people, one of the largest Aboriginal cultural blocks in Australia
Noongar people, also known as Nyungar, are one of the largest Aboriginal cultural blocks in Australia. They are the original inhabitants of the south-west of Western Australia, with a presence in the region spanning over 45,000 years. The Noongar language is a member of the large Pama-Nyungan language family.
Noongar society is made up of fourteen different language groups, each associated with distinct geographic areas and ecological distinctions. These groups include Amangu, Yued/Yuat, Whadjuk/Wajuk, Binjareb/Pinjarup, Wardandi, Balardong/Ballardong, Nyakinyaki/Njakinjaki, Wilman, Ganeang/Kaneang, Bibulmun/Piblemen, Mineng, Goreng, Wudjari, and Njunga. The collective Noongar cultural bloc descends from people who spoke several languages and dialects that were often mutually intelligible.
The Noongar people refer to their land as "Noongar boodja", which covers the entire south-western portion of Western Australia, from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast. Noongar country holds special significance for its people and is strongly featured in their artwork. The Noongar also have a close connection with the earth, dividing the year into six distinct seasons that guide their traditional quest for food and shelter.
Noongar culture has a rich artistic tradition, with plays, novels, and visual arts reflecting the changes brought about by European settlement in Western Australia in 1829. The Noongar language, considered endangered, is being revived through initiatives like the Noongar Language and Culture Centre, and its inclusion in the general school curriculum.
Bougainvillea Growth Guide: Australia's Blooming Wonder
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Noongar language, endangered with few fluent speakers
The Noongar people, also known as Nyungar, are Aboriginal people who have lived in the south-west of Western Australia for over 45,000 years. Noongar means 'a person of the south-west of Western Australia' or 'the original inhabitants of the south-west of Western Australia'. They are one of the largest Aboriginal cultural blocks in Australia.
Noongar is also the name of the language spoken by the Noongar community. There was no standard Noongar language before European settlement; instead, there were several dialects spoken by the different Noongar subgroups. It is believed that there were thirteen dialects at the time of European settlement, of which only five are still spoken today. The remaining dialects include Amangu, Yued/Yuat, Whadjuk/Wajuk, Binjareb/Pinjarup, Wardandi, Balardong/Ballardong, Nyakinyaki, Wilman, Ganeang, Bibulmun/Piblemen, Mineng, Goreng, Wudjari, and Njunga.
The Noongar language is considered endangered, with few fluent speakers remaining. However, there has been a revival of interest in the language in recent years, with the establishment of the Noongar Language and Culture Centre in Western Australia. Efforts have also been made to include the Noongar language in the general school curriculum. Additionally, the Noongar Boodjar Language Cultural Aboriginal Corporation (NBLCAC) was incorporated in 2014, and the Commonwealth Government provided funding to establish the Noongar Language Centre.
Despite the endangered status of the Noongar language, it continues to play an important role in maintaining the knowledge systems and cultural identity of the Noongar people. Literacy has been a key component of language revitalisation efforts, and songs composed in the Noongar language offer a rare insight into the poetics of the language.
Australia's COVID-19 Response: Virus-Free?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Noongar art, influenced by their six seasons
Noongar art is deeply influenced by the six seasons of the southwest of Western Australia: Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba, and Kambarang. The Noongar people have lived in this region for over 45,000 years, and their art reflects their profound connection to the land and its seasonal changes.
Birak is characterised by hot weather and is represented by the colour red. During this season, families travel to coastal regions, engaging in fishing and gathering both saltwater and freshwater foods. The artwork depicting Birak often includes symbols of a large meeting place and a family group near lakes, reflecting the communal nature of this season.
Djeran, or the 'Season of Adulthood', is marked by cooler nights, dewy mornings, and falling leaves. The Noongar people view flying ants and flowering banksias as signs of the cooler weather to come, and they ensure their Mia Mia (bark shelters) are well-maintained during this season. The colour green is associated with Djeran.
Makuru brings healing rain, winds, and storms. The Bindjareb waterways are represented by silver symbols in the artwork, with light blue dot trails guiding the Noongar people to sacred grounds for ceremonies.
Djilba is a season of transition, with a mix of wet days, clear cold nights, and pleasant warmer days. This season is known for the abundance of wildflowers, particularly acacias, banksias, orchids, and kangaroo paws. The colour yellow is emblematic of Djilba.
Kambarang marks the return of longer and warmer days, with less rain and an even greater abundance of wildflowers. The stalks of the Balga trees grow tall, and the Noongar people view this season as a time of conception and new life.
The Noongar people have a rich artistic tradition that reflects their deep cultural knowledge and connection to the land. Their art serves as a powerful medium to share their history, traditions, and unique perspective on the world around them.
Clean Eating Australia: Healthy Food, Healthy Lifestyle
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Tribes [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.0 Import - Spain ]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71-OKGfsfqL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Perth City, located in the ancient country of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people
Perth City is located in the ancient country of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people. The Nyoongar people, also spelt Noongar, Nyungar, Nyoongah, Nyungah, Nyugah, and Yunga, are Aboriginal Australians who have lived in the south-west corner of Western Australia for over 40,000 years. The name "Nyoongar" means "person" or "people".
The Nyoongar language was not written before colonisation, so there are many different spellings of most Nyoongar words. The Nyoongar people are made up of fourteen different language groups, each correlating with different geographic areas with ecological distinctions. These groups include Amangu, Yued/Yuat, Whadjuk/Wajuk, Binjareb/Pinjarup, Wardandi, Balardong/Ballardong, Nyakinyaki, Wilman, Ganeang, Bibulmun/Piblemen, Mineng, Goreng, Wudjari, and Njunga.
The Whadjuk people are a Noongar group native to the Perth bioregion of the Swan Coastal Plain. They traditionally occupied the Perth Metropolitan area, with their territory extending from the Swan River, together with its eastern and northern tributaries, to Mount Helena and beyond. The Whadjuk were coastal-dwellers, and their oral tradition describes the separation of Rottnest from the mainland between 12,000 and 8,000 BCE. Like other Noongar peoples, the Whadjuk moved inland during the winter and returned to the coast in the dry season.
The Whadjuk bore the brunt of European colonisation, as the cities of Perth and Fremantle were built on their land. The arrival of Europeans in 1829 was seen by the Noongar as the returning of deceased people, and they called the newcomers "Djanga", or "white spirits". The Whadjuk people were subject to harsh punishment and indiscriminate violence at the hands of the settlers, and many were killed. In 1887, an Aboriginal reserve for the remaining Whadjuk was established near Lake Gnangara.
The Nyoongar people have a rich culture and history, which they are working to preserve and promote through initiatives like the Kaartdijin website and the Noongar Language and Culture Centre. The Nyoongar people have a strong connection to the land, which is reflected in their artwork and their six distinct seasons: Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba, and Kambarang.
Unraveling the Value of Personalized Number Plates in Australia
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![The Tribe - Complete Series One [Region 2]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51dDusHECVL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
The Nyoongar peoples' contact with seafaring visitors before British colonisation
The Noongar people, also spelt Nyungar, Nyongah, Nyungah, Nyugah, and Yunga, are Aboriginal Australians who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia. They are one of the largest Aboriginal cultural blocks in Australia. The Noongar people have lived in the area for more than 45,000 years, with the oldest evidence of their existence in the area at Devil's Lair, dating back over 38,000 years.
Before the arrival of the British in 1829, the Noongar people had contact with various seafaring visitors, including the Dutch and the French. There is also evidence of trade with Asian visitors, with Indonesian trees and fragments of foreign pottery found on northern beaches. The Noongar people traded trepang, or sea cucumbers, with 'sail in, sail out' fishing crews from South-East Asia as early as 1700. This contact was likely based on an exchange of knowledge and people, with some Noongar people speaking Indonesian alongside their own language.
The Noongar people moved with the seasons, travelling inland in winter and returning in late spring to capture game such as kangaroos, wallabies, and possums. They also fished in coastal areas and rivers, with the river holding a sacred place in their culture as the home of the Wagyl, a water serpent responsible for the creation and maintenance of the river and other water features around Perth.
The Noongar people were significantly impacted by British colonisation, which brought violence and new diseases, reducing their population. The Noongar saw the arrival of Europeans as the returning of deceased people, calling them 'Djanga' or 'white spirits'.
Australia's Banned Video Games: A Surprising List
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Aboriginal tribes in Western Australia include the Noongar, or Nyungar, people, who have lived in the south-west of Western Australia for over 45,000 years. The Noongar people are made up of 14 different language groups, including Amangu, Yued/Yuat, Whadjuk/Wajuk, Binjareb/Pinjarup, Wardandi, Balardong/Ballardong, Nyakinyaki, Wilman, Ganeang, Bibulmun/Piblemen, Mineng, Goreng, Wudjari, and Njunga.
Noongar means 'a person of the southwest of Western Australia' or the 'original inhabitants of the southwest of Western Australia'.
There was no standard Noongar language, but a number of dialects. About 8,000 people speak a creolized form of the eastern dialect of Noongar, known as Neo-Nyungar.
The 2001 census figures showed that 21,000 people identified themselves as Aboriginal in the southwest of Western Australia. In 2006, the Noongar people estimated that there were about 28,000 people who identify with the tribe.
![Tribes on the Edge [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61EOGtVsMML._AC_UL320_.jpg)
![The Tribes of Palos Verdes [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91fgs3uwCYL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
