GNULLA BIDI BOODJA (OUR PATH ON COUNTRY)
Here we share upcoming initiatives led by Noongar people on Noongar Boodja. Each project reflects our commitment to truth-telling, healing, cultural revitalisation, and intergenerational connection. While most activities are designed specifically for Noongar participants, we welcome interest from philanthropic and local funders who wish to respectfully support our work. If you would like to contribute funding or resources to help make these cultural projects possible, please get in touch. Your support helps us create safe, strong spaces for Noongar moort (families) to reconnect with culture, identity, and wellbeing - on Country, in our own way.
Below are some of our upcoming initiatives that reflect this path forward.
Yorga (Women's) Gathering 2026
A three-day women’s gathering on-country along the sacred Gugulja in Toodyay, led by yorga Elders - where Noongar women come together to reconnect, listen, and pass cultural knowledge across generations.
OVERVIEW
· An inter-generational gathering for Noongar women to come together on country.
· To share stories, walk the land, create cultural art, explore bush tucker and resources, women’s roles, and the knowledge and ceremonies that keep families and land strong.
· The gathering will be guided by Elders, and move at Elder pace.
· It will follow Noongar ways - walking, sitting, yarning, making, and sharing time on country with care and respect.
· A culturally safe space for women to honour the past, reflect on the present, and grow a strong cultural future - led by Elders and shared with younger women.
Men’s Wellbeing on Country - Yarning & Tool-Making
This upcoming initiative is a men-led, on-Country wellbeing activity designed to support Noongar men’s mental health, cultural pride, and connection.
The project (an outcome from Elders yarn in March 2025) will bring together up to 15 Noongar men - including younger men - at our yarning circle site in Boyagerring for a full-day session of traditional tool-making and cultural yarning. Guided by experienced cultural practitioners and Elders, participants will craft tools such as the kodj (axe), wanna (digging stick), and boorn waangkiny (message sticks), using locally gathered wood. While working with their hands, men will yarn in a culturally safe space - sharing stories, supporting each other, and reconnecting with heritage knowledge and identity. This combination of hands-on practice and meaningful conversation directly supports mens health by reducing isolation and fostering pride, purpose, and belonging. The activity will conclude with a Moort (family) gathering around the fire, reaffirming cultural continuity and shared wellbeing. This trial initiative is designed to be seasonal and sustainable, creating a lasting model for future men’s healing and cultural reconnection programs on Noongar Boodja.
dudja boordiya waangkiny - 2025
TOODYAY ELDERS YARN:
In March this year the NKAC held a Yarning Circle with local Elders and cultural knowledge holders as part of the planning for an ‘on-country’ cultural learning space on bushland at the junction of Gugulja (Avon) and Boyagerring Brook. Key features will include a Yarning Circle, Six Seasonal Learning Stations (each aligned with cultural knowledge for the changing seasons), and other cultural elements. It will be a space where Noongar people can reconnect with culture, share knowledge, and contribute to the healing of boodja (land), bilya (waterways) and moort (families). The day involved a welcome to country, smoking ceremony and river blessing where Elders called upon the spirit, seeking guidance and blessing as we move forward in restoring cultural connection to this place. We had opportunity for a walk on-country and discussions during the day. As part of the yarning, we broke into Maaman (men’s) and Yorga (women’s) groups to discuss ideas for future cultural and wellbeing activities. A key priority that emerged was the need for on-country experiences that combine yarning with cultural knowledge and hands-on practices to strengthen connection and overall wellbeing. More updates on this soon. A huge thanks for support from Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. The next stage is going through the process for design and construction. This is supported by Midland Brick, and the State Government via Wheatbelt Development Commission - and will focus on creating the outdoor space.
In the meantime we have set up a temporary yarn circle and fire pit to use.
A second Yarning morning was held in April to progress to the Stage 2 of the project.
Boodja Seasons: A Year on Country - 2025/26
Beginning in Makuru season (June 2025) and continuing through to Djeran season (April 2026), the Boodja Image Project will document the seasonal rhythms of the Gugulja (Avon River) and Boyagerring Creek. Over 12 months, our volunteer photographer will capture key flora across identified locations within a 2.5-kilometre stretch, revealing the subtle and striking changes in the landscape throughout the six Noongar bonar (seasons). This visual journey aims to deepen understanding and appreciation of the land’s cycles, showcasing the vibrant life that shifts with each season. By revisiting the same sites, we highlight the natural flow of growth, renewal, and rest inherent in Noongar Country. While currently an in-house volunteer initiative, we aspire to expand the project into a six bonar video series, featuring Elder voiceovers and cultural insights - bringing the stories of the seasons to life. This future project will further celebrate the connection between Noongar people, their land, and the ongoing cultural knowledge shared through the changing seasons.
Women’s Camp - Business on Country - 2026
NKAC is in the early stages of planning for Noongar women to head out on Country for a weekend camp to visit traditional birthing places and reconnect with the powerful knowledge of yorga (women’s) business. Guided by Elders, this camp will create space for women to sit, yarn, and share stories in the places where grandmothers and great-grandmothers once gave birth. This project recognises the deep cultural and spiritual importance of birthing on Country, and the strength passed down through generations. Birthing places were sacred – often sheltered by caves or rocks, near water, kwell (sheoak) and prepared with care and ceremony. These visits will honour those traditions and help rekindle women’s knowledge that has been disrupted through colonisation. Together, we will walk gently on the land, share meals, light fires, and open up space for intergenerational learning, healing, and cultural revival. This is about making space for Noongar women to reconnect with our identity, strengthen kinship, and keep sacred women’s business strong for the future.