Noongar - Noongar Ecology

Noongar Ecology

The Noongar people occupied and maintained the Mediterranean climate lands of the south-west of Western Australia, and made sustainable use of seven biogeographic regions of their territory, namely;

• Geraldton Sandplains – Amangu and Yued
• Swan Coastal Plain – Yued, Whadjuk, Binjareb and Wardandi
• Avon Wheatbelt – Balardong, Nyakinyaki, Wilman
• Jarrah Forest – Whadjuk, Binjareb, Balardong, Wilman, Ganeang
• Warren – Bibulmun, Mineng
• Mallee – Wilmen, Goreng and Wudjari
• Esperance Plains – Njunga

These seven regions have been acknowledged as a biodiversity hot-spot, having a generally greater number of endemic species than most other regions in Australia. The ecological damage done to this region through clearing, introduced species, by feral animals and non-endemic plants is also severe, and has resulted in a high proportion of plants and animals being included in the categories of rare, threatened and endangered species. In modern times many Aboriginal men were employed intermittently as rabbiters, and rabbit became an important part of Noongar diet in the early 20th century. The Noongar territory also happens to conform closely with the South-west Indian Ocean Drainage Region, and the use of these water resources played a very important seasonal part in their culture.

The Noongar thus have a close connection with the earth and, as a consequence, they divided the year into six distinct seasons that corresponded with moving to different habitats and feeding patterns based on seasonal foods. They were:

• Birak (December/January)—Dry and hot. Noongar burned sections of scrubland to force animals into the open for easier hunting.

• Bunuru (February/March)—Hottest part of the year, with sparse rainfall throughout. Noongar moved to estuaries for fishing.

• Djeran (April/May)—Cooler weather begins. Fishing continued and bulbs and seeds were collected for food.

• Makuru (June/July)—Cold fronts that have until now brushed the lower south-west coast begin to cross further north. This is usually the wettest part of the year. Noongar moved inland to hunt, once rains had replenished inland water resources.

• Djilba (August/September)—Often the coldest part of the year, with clear, cold nights and days, or warmer, rainy and windy periods. As the nights begin to warm up there are more clear, sunny days. Roots were collected and emus, possums and kangaroo were hunted.

• Kambarang (October/November)—A definite warming trend is accompanied by longer dry periods and fewer cold fronts crossing the coast. The height of the wildflower season. Noongar moved towards the coast where frogs, tortoises and freshwater crayfish were caught.