The City of Busselton sits on Wadandi Country that is called Wadandi Boodja. 
The Wadandi people are the Traditional Custodians, and have lived and breathed off this ancient land for over 40,000 years. It was and continues to be a place of plenty. The Aboriginal name for Busselton is Undalup after the warrior and leader Undal.
The Wadandi people – the salt water people, are closely linked to the ocean. They have been hunting and gathering bush foods between the coastal strip, waterways and forests for thousands of years. It is an important part of their culture as stewards of country and they have strong spiritual bonds with it.
Reconciliation Action Plan
The City is committed to building respect and forging strong relationships with the Aboriginal community. The desired outcome is to encourage greater reconciliation and equality between all our community members.
The City began its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) journey in 2015. After many discussions with individuals, groups and organisations, a framework began to take shape.
In 2020, Reconciliation Australia endorsed the City’s first Reflect level RAP. The actions included in the RAP are from those many conversations and are the aspirations that have been identified by the Aboriginal community as well as City staff. This is a living document that provides a framework for the City to work with and build upon.
Some of the projects that we work with the Aboriginal community on include heritage surveys before disturbing country, land restoration activities such as tree plantings, and NAIDOC events and cultural awareness projects.
In 2022, we have begun engaging with the Aboriginal community to inform the next level of RAP – Innovate. In designing the new performing arts centre, there has been an Aboriginal Advisory Group right from the beginning. This has influenced the name and architectural features in and out of the building.
In 2023, the City entered into a Lease agreement with South West Aboriginal Medical Service at the Locke Estate camp sites.
In 2024-25 the City is working on an Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan – which is the next level of Reconciliation Australia’s RAP Framework. This will be led by the City’s Aboriginal Community Development Officer, Thelma Harris. One of the main outcomes we hope to achieve is a RAP Working Group including Elders and Aboriginal community members.
During NAIDOC WEEK and National Reconciliation Week we work with local Aboriginal community members and organisations to bring people together in celebration and learning. We look forward to continuing to build on these.
- Annual Reconciliation Walk during Reconciliation Week in May
- NAIDOC Week activities in July
- NAIDOC Week Flag Raising Ceremony and Morning Tea
- Elders Lunch
- Cultural Activity Day
- We have been meeting with the Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation board and partnered with them to deliver the Mental Health Week Indigenous Sports Day. We hope to grow our relationship with KKAC as time goes on.
In 2023, the City entered into a Lease agreement with South West Aboriginal Medical Service at the Locke Estate camp sites
Aboriginal community members have been involved with or led projects such as:
- Gaywal – as part of the Settlement Art Project
- Korrianne sculpture in Yallingup
- Boodja Koondarminy Artwork in Busselton
- Gnuraren Mia (working title of Barnard East Conservation Area)
- Yoganup Park interpretation and signage
- Merenj Boodja Bush Food Garden
- Revegetation plantings along the Vasse River
- Revamp of Walgin Garden
We are currently in the process of commissioning an Aboriginal Artwork for the Busselton Margaret River Airport that is made possible through a grant through Tourism WA’s Jina: WA Aboriginal Action Plan 2021-2025. This is an exciting project that will be installed in the Airport Departure Hall and we are grateful for the assistance of Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation on its delivery.
Language
Many of the regions locations are still named in language. For instance, Yallingup is place of holes; Quindalup is place of the quenda (bandicoot); Wonnerup is place of the women’s digging stick and Meelup is place of eyes. We mention this because sometimes the spelling of words is different.
There are many language groups and dialects on Nyungar country. Within the Bibbulmun Nation Wadandi is spoken. This is different from the Whadjuk language around the Perth area though both are within Nyungar country. As the language was spoken and not written, over time there have been alternative spellings. There are also many ways to pronounce Nyungar which is why the spelling is varied. For example Noongar which is the most common, Nyoongar, Noonga, Nyugah, Nyungah, Yungar, and Nyoongah.
Reconciliation Action Plan
Related Information
Korrianne - Public Artwork
Other resources:
Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation
Undalup Association
South West Aboriginal Medical Service
Noongar Boodjar Language Cultural Aboriginal Corporation
Kaartdijijn Noongar Knowledge