H ow To:
FIND CULTURE ON
WA DA N D I B O O DJA WORDS | Sarina Kamini
Cultural Custodian, Josh Whiteland, says that to “Leave no trace” is a key to unlocking an intimate experience of culture on Wadandi Boodja – which is the Aboriginal name for the Margaret River Region. “Enjoy your natural surrounds and only leave your footprints. The wind comes along and blows your footprints and your tracks out.” To educate yourself on what this Country
coastal heath into an outdoor market,
Quedjinup (Dunsborough) means meeting
means to our First Nations People, there
and the ocean into both touchstone and
place of the fish traps: the coastline where
are a number of ways you can explore and
resource. Josh knows the medicinal plants
families gathered to catch and cook fish
connect with the land.
of the coastal ridge, shares music and
over fire, make thatched frames from
traditional fire lighting. Taking Yallingup
peppermint trees and create community
Koomal Dreaming Cultural Tour
and its surrounds back to the land makes us
on Country. What appears as a nature
Leaving no footprints is both a perspective
accountable to how we move through it.
playground at Djiljit Mia is a landscape designed around the story of the Wadandi
and a way of physically engaging. A
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cultural tour with Josh Whiteland of
Djiljit Mia Community Garden
Koomal Dreaming provides a framework for
& Gathering Place
understanding. Josh defines the landscape
Djiljit Mia means ‘fish home’ – and these
includes a sculpture of an Aboriginal elder
with traditional place names, their meaning,
gorgeous gardens are a great place to visit
and his son. Local artist Greg Banfield
and the Dreamtime stories that establish
for groups of all ages. Fishing for the
constructed the piece to reflect the
origin. The experience of foraging turns
Wadandi people was a community activity.
fishing stories that extend back through
| Tales & Trails / margaretriver.com
people’s use of the land. Pronounced Jill-jit My-ah – the park
