Aboriginal Perspectives

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Resources in the Swan District

One of the best ways to access Aboriginal history and cultural knowledge is to respectfully connect with local Indigenous people, including your students' families and extended families. Sincerity and a desire to learn help develop trust and foster strong and worthwhile relationships with your local Indigenous community.

Care needs to be taken to ensure that any protocols given are followed. This also includes working and talking to Aboriginal people, especially elders, and when photographing sites.

Permission must always be sought to use dreaming stories. Intellectual, moral and cultural copyright remains with Aboriginal people unless a legal agreement is sought between the Aboriginal person concerned and the school.

Significant Sites Buildings & Centres Publications Performances

When visiting sites of significance to Aboriginal people, it is important to respect the area that you are visiting, e.g. dispose of rubbish appropriately, and nothing should be moved or broken, including artifacts.
The Swan Region's geography is diverse and covers the Swan Valley, Shire of Mundaring, City of Bayswater, part of the City of Stirling and part of the Town of Vincent. It has many useful physical resources for teachers. The following parks and relevant sites are useful in providing an Aboriginal perspective. Excursions of this kind provide students with an invaluable experience that cannot be found in the classroom. This way of learning is culturally appropriate and allows students the opportunity within the natural environment to see, smell, touch and even taste the world in which Aboriginal people lived and still belong to.
Students can learn:
  • Living thing share relationships which may alter their chance of survival (Curriculum Framework, Science, p.36 )
  • Human impact on natural systems results in changes to the environment and consequently impacts on humans. (Curriculum Framework, Science, p26).
Bells Rapid Walk Trail Brigadoon
This is a scenic walk trail along the Swan River. In winter you can see the rushing water and large ancient boulders as well as enjoying the scenic views of the countryside and coastal plains. Bells Rapid is home to the Yonga (kangaroo).
Bennett Brook Ballajura
Bennett Book is significant to Aboriginal people, as it is believed that it was formed by the creative activities of the Waugal. It is said that the Waugal's resting place is a cave in the deep, still water. Python Bridge crosses Bennett Brook approximately 200 meters from its confluence with the Swan River and it is believed to be the home of an evil and dangerous spirit. Some Aboriginal families have said that camping areas existed from the Southern boundaries of this site to Bennett Swamp in pre-contact times. There is a tradition of digging wells for freshwater supplies in the western bank of Bennett Brook and a traditional fish trap supplied food for these camps. Benara Road is the southern boundary to this Aboriginal site. In the 1930's to 1960's, Aboriginal camps spread across Lord Street into the area that is now a housing estate. It is reported that burials have taken place between Benara Road and Widgee Road, however their exact location is not known.
Guildford's Heritage Walk Trails Guildford
Students understand that the interaction people have with places in which they live is shaped by the location, patterns and processes associated with natural and built features.
Hills Forest Mundaring
The Hills Forest includes State Forest, national parks and the beauty of the forest wildlife, trees and plants. Here students can see the native plants and animals including Western grey kangaroo, reptiles and small mammals.
Kangaroo Dreaming Trail (Ngala Koondarm Boodjah) Swan Valley
Visit sites of Aboriginal cultural significance in the Swan Valley area with an Aboriginal guide. View sites dating back 40,000 years, learn about bush foods and useful plants, see how traditional tools and weapons are made, enjoy a cultural performance featuring traditional dance and didgeridoo playing, and try your had at boomerang throwing. Morning tea and a bush tucker lunch are provided and there's time to browse the Maalinup Aboriginal Art Gallery.
Munda Biddi Trail Mundaring
The Munda Biddi (which means "path through the forest" in the Noongar language) is a 900 km cycling track through an undeveloped natural corridor from Mundaring to Albany.
Munday Swamp Perth Airport
Munday Swamp is located against the northeastern perimeter fence of Perth Airport, southwest of King Road and west of the Forrestfield and Kewdale Railway Yards. Munday Swamp was an area of ancient Aboriginal usage and had been used as a turtle-fishing ground in pre-contact times. The Melaleuca shrub offered shade and coolness to the turtle fishermen, who were known to camp there on occasions. These days, Munday Swamp lies on private property beside the Perth Airport's perimeter fence.
Nyibra Swamp Bassendean
Nyibra Swamp has been used by Aboriginal people from Bayswater and Bassendean areas as a turtle and gilgie fishing area from the 1920s until recent times.
Swan River
The Swan River flows from the Avon River in Walyunga National Park in the North east of our district and meanders through the Swan Valley, meeting up with Helena River in Guilford, Bassendean. Helena River originates from what is now Mundaring Weir.
Walyunga National Park Avon Valley
Walyunga hosts one of the largest known Aboriginal campsites near Perth, used by regional tribes for more than 60,000 years. The National Park offers a 1.2 km Aboriginal Heritage Trail between Walyunga Pool and Boogarup Pool, which allows students to learn about Aboriginal myths and legends and to see the plants and animals through the eyes of the original inhabitants.
Whiteman Park Swan Valley
Whiteman Park offers students the opportunity to engage with the animals, with hands on activities. This park is particularly suitable for Early and Middle Childhood phase. It provides a safe environment and facilities for picnicking and has many activities for students including walk trails.
Wetlands
450 wetlands have been identified in the City of Swan. Some of the most well-known wetlands in the Swan region include:
  • Melaleuca Management Priority Area Wetlands
  • Ellenbrook Lexia Wetlands
  • Sawpit Gully, east Lexia
  • Whiteman Park Wetlands (Mussel Pool)
  • Twin Swamps and Martyn Reserve Wetlands (also referred to as Ellen Brook Reserve)
  • Hazelmere Lakes
  • Perth Airport Wetlands
  • Waljarra Swamp, north of Jane Brook
  • Emu Swamp, Ballajura

These are very interesting areas for students to visit and study the plants, insects, birds and water. A study of the wetlands and excursions will help students understand the features and importance of the wetlands, how they were important to Aboriginal people, the changes that have taken place and how wetlands are important to the living systems of the world in which they live. Ribbons of Blue is an excellent resource for excursions to wetlands.
Altone Park Leisure Centre Beechboro
Altone Park Leisure Centre has a unique mural in the entrance of the building by local Noongar Artist Shane Pickett. This artwork is an excellent example of the Noongar six seasons that students can view and discuss.
Hills Discovery Centre Mundaring
Although this is not specifically an Aboriginal centre, the animals and facilities can provide students with an outdoor experience with the added benefit of education officers, a resource room and cover and warmth for the winter months.
Maali Mia Aboriginal Cultural Centre & Art Gallery Henley Brook
Aboriginal owned and operated in the Swan Valley, the Art Gallery and Gift Shop has didgeridoo and boomerang demonstrations, traditional and contemporary Aboriginal Art, artifacts and other fascinating things to see and do. Students will be able to recognise local artists and discover the varieties of Aboriginal art.
Midland Railway Workshops Interpretive Centre Midland
For studies involving early colonization and the impact on the Indigenous culture, places such as the Midland Railway Workshops Interpretive Centre are helpful.
Corroboree Book
A children's story of Aboriginal history by Suzanne Kelly & Angus Wallam (2004). A young boy spends time with his grandfather. Using Noongar and English and beautiful illustrations the story helps young people understand the way Aboriginal people lived traditionally.
  • English: Texts include pictures and symbols that represent ideas. Viewing can be used for enjoyment, a tool for learning and everyday activities.
  • The Arts: Visual art practices are an integral part of cultural practices in the school, family and local community. Visual art represents human experience. People and places can be explored through visual art.
  • Society and Environment - Culture: Students understand that people form groups because of their shared understandings of the world, and in turn, they are influenced by the particular culture so formed.
  • Society and Environment - Time, continuity and change: Students understand that peoples' actions and values are shaped by their understanding and interpretation of the past.
  • Society and Environment - Place and space: Students understand that the interaction people have with places in which they live is shaped by the location, patterns and processes associated with natural and built features.
Exploring Woodlands with Noongars PDF
Teaching activities for primary and secondary schools.
  • Arts in Society: Aboriginal society preserves their culture and history through drawings, paintings, carvings, printing, story telling and dances. Traditional cultures use the arts to preserve history and important information about ceremonies to do with religion and law, the natural environment and important events.
  • Science - Life and Living: The basic needs of living things, e.g. food, shelter, air and water. Living things depend on other living things and the environment to survive.
  • Technology in Society: Students understand that people use technologies in different ways and have different attitudes toward technology.
The Mark of the Wagarl Book
A children's illustrated story from Noongar country of the Wagarl, by Lorna Little (2004). The story of how a young boy questioned the wisdom of his Elders, and why he received the Wagarl, the sacred water-snake, for his totem.
  • English: The value of different life and language experiences. Text represents events, people, ideas and places in certain ways.
  • The Arts: Aboriginal society preserves their culture and history through drawings, paintings, carvings, printing, story telling and dances.
  • Society and Environment - Culture: Students understand that people form groups because of their shared understandings of the world, and in turn, they are influenced by the particular culture so formed. Cultural groups may have different world views about places. Cultural groups express their culture in different ways. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
  • Society and Environment - Time, continuity and change: Students understand that peoples' actions and values are shaped by their understanding and interpretation of the past.
Walwalinj: The Hill That Cries Book
By Ralph Winmar (1997); Available from Dorothy Winmar, 5 Elderfield Road, Manning WA 6152
  • English: Students develop a critical awareness of the way language varies according to context and how language affects the ways students view themselves and the world in which they live. Text structures are culture-specific (e.g. English and Aboriginal narrative Structures)
  • LOTE: Students comprehend and communicate in the target language (Noongar) through listening and responding, and speaking.
  • Society and Environment: Students understand that people form groups because of their shared understandings in the world, and, in turn, they are influenced by the particular culture so formed.
Winds Book
Reflective poems of people, places and events, by Alf Taylor. Excellent resource for High School Students.
  • English: The value of different life and language experiences. Text represents events, people, ideas and places in certain ways. Readers can develop meanings in sociocultural contexts that vary from dictionary meanings (e.g. wicked, cool).
  • Society and Environment - Culture: Students understand that people form groups because of their shared understandings of the world, and in turn, they are influenced by the particular culture so formed.
The River Retreat's "Didge After Dark" Swan Valley
Experience Dreamtime and early Colonial Settlement stories in a campfire amphitheatre set under the stars and giant Rivergums, enjoy a Bush Tucker BBQ, and be entertained by Aboriginal Dancers, Didgeridoo playing, and more.
  • Arts in Society: Traditional Aboriginal dance reflects and is inspired by the natural environment. Dance encourages us to appreciate and understand the wide range of influences on Australian culture. Storytelling practices are an integral part of Aboriginal culture.
  • Society and Environment - Culture: Students understand that people form groups because of their shared understandings of the world, and in turn, they are influenced by the particular culture so formed. The Culture of a group is influenced by its values, beliefs and practices.