An Introduction To The Australian Aboriginal Noongar Language

Across Australia there is an abundance of Australian Aboriginal languages spoken, and those who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia are identified as Noongar. This identification doesn’t just lie in the language they speak but in their beliefs and identity.
‘To be Noongar is to belong; it is to have a connection to our boodja (country), our moort (family) and to kaartdijin (knowledge). To be Noongar is to be a river person or a coastal person or just from the bush. It is to have pride and to survive. We need to celebrate this journey.’ – Kaartdijin Noongar
Identity is a huge part of the Noongar community, as it not only signifies their connection to the country but it is expressed through the stories they tell, the songs they sing, the dances they dance and the music they play. All of the stories that form the community’s identity is passed down from the Edlers through their families. These stories would generally explain their language, their strong connection to the land and their surroundings, as well as how to live and survive in the bush according to nature.
The Noongar community hold great respect for their Elders as they are the keepers of kaartdijin (knowledge) and they also carry through the lore: unwritten law referring to knowledge, beliefs and rules of the community that ensure the protection of both animals and the environment, as well as themselves.
The unique connection the Noongar community have with the country lies within the belief that everything in our landscape has a purpose and meaning. Furthermore, their spirituality is enhanced by Dreaming – what the Noongar people believe as the Creation Time during which the cosmos was created – when ‘spirits rose from the earth and descended from the sky to create the land forms and all living things.’