Ngoorlark

‘Ngoorlark’, now commonly known as White Tailed Black Cockatoo, is ‘Boorongur ‘or ‘Totem’

to some people of the Bibbulmun race.

‘Boorongur’, meaning ‘spiritual elder brother’ and ‘blood brother relation’, identifies people

with strong connections to place and belonging.

‘Totemism’ could be called our peoples religion. For every species of food - animal and

vegetable, is the ‘Boorongur’ of either a group or individual. Every circumstance of life and

death was ceremoniously associated with the totem.

Our children were taught their totemic laws from earliest infancy and were told of the

guardian spirit always watching over their totem, so that they should not wantonly hurt or kill

the young of their fathers ‘Boorongur’, for these were their own little ‘ totem brothers and

sisters’.

Traditional Aboriginal Culture had strength in sustainability, through our ancient sacred laws of Nature worshipping.

‘Bibbulmun’ means the ‘place of many breasts’ and is the South Western corner of Western Australia, from Geraldton to Esperance.

‘Noongarah’ are her Aboriginal sons and ‘Yorga’ are her daughters, traditional custodians and keepers of ancient wisdom.

‘We of the Bibbulmun’

I acknowledge with gratitude, Daisy Bates; an early scribe on Boorongur and Totemism, taken from our old people and left in trust to our

people, our future.