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A story generously shared by Wadandi Knowledge Custodians and written by Wadandi Pibulmun writer, Sharnae Watson.

Here in the South West region, our local Indigenous people are Wadandi (Saltwater People), getting their name from ‘Wadan’ — the ocean spirit.

Wadandi people hold a deep belief there is forever a connection between the land and sea, where any impact on the land or freshwater systems inevitably affect our saltwater systems. This is why many local Wadandi custodians, including Dr Wayne Webb and Zac Webb who contributed to this story, emphasise the importance of caring for Wadandi Boodja as one continuous cultural seascape.

Aerial photo of coastline in Yallingup.
Aerial photo of coastline in Yallingup. Photo: Ryan Murphy

The Blackwood River is known to the Wadandi people as ‘Goorbiliyup’. The name derives from ‘Goorbil’, meaning small intestines, a reflection of how the river moves and winds through Boodja much like intestines in the body, ‘Bilya’, meaning ‘river.’ and ‘up,’ indicating ‘a place of’.

Beginning at Lake Bumbleyung, a salt lake in the Great Southern, Goorbiliyup stretches about 400 kilometres southwest towards Taalinup (Augusta). It is said that the river marks the line where the Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean meet in Augusta and continues as far out to sea as the old coastline once was. The river also separates two tribal boundaries: the Wadandi Saltwater people to the north, and the Pibulmun people, known as the people of plenty, to the south.

Blackwood River Houseboats
The Blackwood River is known to the Wadandi people as 'Goorbiliyup'. Photo: Blackwood River Houseboats

Goorbiliyup is one example of the connections from inland country to sea country, representing the many waterways in Boodja carrying multitudes of song lines and linking the people to both land and sea.

For Indigenous people, a song line is a form of education and a form of connection. It is hydrology and geology, it is environmental science, it is interactive, a way of learning and a way of teaching others about where you have been through play, song, and dance. It is our knowledge and our way to share it.

Numerous collaborative projects between traditional custodians and environmental bodies are currently in progress, demonstrating just how immensely important the connection between land and sea is.

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The many waterways in Boodja carry multitudes of song lines. Photo: Ryan Murphy

Notably is the partnership between the Undalup Association, Wadandi Knowledge Custodians, The University of Western Australia, and the Director of National Parks. Their collaboration The Cultural Seascape of Wadandi Boodja: The Cultural Values of Australia’s South-west Marine Parks highlights the cultural significance and values of these marine environments.

In this project, Dr. Wayne Webb and Zac Webb shared valuable cultural information, including, very generously, several song lines. Among these are the Wejt Kwala (Emu Song Line), the starting song line toward Taalinup (Augusta), the Cowara Kwala (Purple-crown Lorikeet Song Line), which describes how the Cowara travel from their inland breeding grounds to the coast, to the Gabbi Kwala (Freshwater Song Lines) during the summer to feed.

They also discussed in further detail the Gortjguttuk Kwala (Pink Snapper Song Line), Wooditj Kaarbin Kwala (Old Man Groper Song Line), Ngingaraa Kaala (Lava Flow), Ngari Up (Place of the Salmon), Gabbi Up (Freshwater Place), and the Mammung Biddi-wah (Whale’s Path).

The Mammung Biddi-wah (Whale’s Path)

Wadandi Boodja is an important place for Mammung (whales). When Gullyung (Acacia Cyclops or Wattle) flowers, the mammung are starting their migration. The Gullyung grows a bean at the time that calves are being born up in Bardi Country in the Kimberley and the seed opens as the mammung come down past Wadandi Country, this seed represents the great eye of the whale.

The mammung biddi-wah (whale path) is sometimes far offshore, but they often follow a path close to shore. They come to the Gabbi-up places where the freshwater seeps out into the saltwater and when they beach themselves, they are offering themselves back to the land where they come from.

Before they entered the water, the mammung were more like hippos and liked to live in the shallow marshland in Yoganup at the foothills of yalyal (Whitcher Escarpment) behind what is now known as Undalup (Busselton). The Yogan (Thylacine/wild dog) would scare the mammung into the sea. The mammung would come back in from Waatu (Geographe Bay) to land with seagrass in his mouth.

Eventually, the mammung decided the saltwater was a better place to live and so he stayed. The Kwillan (Dolphin) felt left behind, he saw the mammung in the sea and decided to follow him.

Southern right whales
Southern right whales, Cape Naturaliste. Photo: Tim Campbell

These song lines illustrate the profound connections between land and sea in Wadandi culture.

To learn more, you’re invited to join cultural events and workshops in the region, such as the Undalup Bunuru Festival, to further explore and appreciate the region’s rich heritage.

Please respect and care for Boodja (Country), by leaving nothing but footprints and in return Boodja will care for you. Always remember that Boodja does not need us, but we will always need her.