Collie River Heritage Trail Sign 5

CONNECTION TO EACH OTHER

Aboriginal people lived in harmony with their environment and moved across their territory depending on the seasons. Plants and animals were indicators of the changing seasons, which showed when it was time to go either inland during the cooler months or to the coast during the hotter months.

Noongar people call the six seasons Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba and Kambarang.

Noongar families would camp all along the river where they would fish, gather food from the bush and connect to their country and other families. In the hotter months the river banks were thick with reeds and the crabs and fish were plentiful.

Today Noongar people continue to fish and camp along the Collie River.

“This country is part of us” – Les Wallam.

The Story of Respect for Mothers (Tjook) as told by Elder Joe Northover

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