Noongars call for recognition of ‘black history’

As Bunbury joined the nation in celebrating Australia Day, a small group of Noongars stood holding a banner printed with the words ‘‘Bunbury has a black history’’.

Staged during the Mayor’s Wednesday morning speech last week, the poignant silent protest emphasised the dual significance of the day for the land’s traditional owners.

Protest leader and local Noongar elder Lera Bennell said Bunbury’s indigenous history was too easily forgotten, lost among a landscape dominated by European names and monuments.

‘‘As you look around, the story is told about white settlement and how they settled and tamed the land, but there were people here already,’’ Ms Bennell said.

‘‘We have big monuments for the wajullahs around Bunbury like Lord Forrest, but our Noongar heroes should be recognised as well.’’

Ms Bennell is calling for signs to be installed at entry points to the city welcoming visitors to Wardandi country and for dual street signage to be adopted.

Mayor David Smith personally supported the idea but said it would be a decision for the council to make.

Mr Smith said he was determined to see an emphasis on indigenous culture in the Bunbury region and met last week with representatives of the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council to discuss means of realising the goal.

He promised to convene a meeting with indigenous leaders once the city’s new CEO is in place. ‘‘The first thing we will be doing is asking the local indigenous groups to try and identify for us those people who should be on an indigenous mayoral committee to provide advice in relation to indigenous issues,’’ Mr Smith said.

Plans to establish a cultural memorial at the intersection of Ocean Drive, Wellington and Symmons streets at what is a traditional Noongar burial site are near completion.

As part of the biggest native title claim in Australia, Aboriginals in Perth and the South West are pursuing a compensation package worth at least $1 billion.

Mr Smith said he had always supported the recognition of Noongars as the traditional custodians of the South West.

‘‘Obviously once the fund is established, the Noongar people in this region would like to see some of those funds expended in this region,’’ he said.

‘‘We would want to support them in doing that and would include some joint projects.’’