Fremantle members and supporters will get their first look at the Club’s new Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country video on the big screens at Optus Stadium ahead of Freo’s round two clash with St Kilda on Sunday.
The internally produced video will be played at every home game and major event held by the Club across the 2022 season.
Former Fremantle Docker and current Indigenous and Multicultural Liaison Officer at the Club Roger Hayden (Balardung/Goreng/Nyaki Nyaki/Njunga Noongar) produced the script for the production.
Aboriginal Elder and Club Patron Richard Walley (Whadjuk, Ballardong, Yued, Wardan, Binjarreb Noongar and Yamatji) delivers the Welcome to Whadjuk, Noongar Boodja.
Senior Noongar woman and board member Colleen Hayward (Goreng Noongar) joins Club captains Nat Fyfe and Hayley Miller in delivering the Acknowledgement of Country component.
The story begins in Beeliar Boodjar, close to the physical home of Fremantle HQ in Cockburn, with a focus on the local lakes and wetlands which are significant to the area.
The Beeliar Clan is part of the Whadjuk Noongar Group, with the Whadjuk being one of 14 Noongar language groups which occupy the southwest region of Australia.
The narrative then leads us to our spiritual home in Walyalup (Fremantle), where our history and roots remain. It is here that we start our journey from our spiritual home to our new home of footy, Warndulier (Optus Stadium).
Before reaching Warndulier, the story makes its way to Jenalup or Dyoondalup (Blackwall Reach/Point Walter Reserve), with the most sacred part of the area being the cliffs along Blackwall Reach.
In Aboriginal culture it was traditionally a place for women and children, before white settlement occupied the area.
The last stop is Kakaroomup (Heirrison Island) and Matagarup, the sand bar that connects the north and south banks of the Derbal Yerrigan (Swan River) – before reaching Warndulier (Optus Stadium) where we gather together to watch the game.
The production is both a Welcome and an Acknowledgement of Country.
A Welcome to Country is when Traditional Custodians welcome visitors to their Country. The Welcome may be in the form of a speech, ceremony (including Smoking Ceremony) and/or dance and can only be performed by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person who has been given permission from Traditional Owners to do so.
An Acknowledgment of Country recognises and shows respect to Traditional Custodians and their continuing connection to land, sea and culture. This can be extended by any person, either Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples or non-Indigenous people at the beginning of an event, speech, relevant meeting or in publications.
Speaking ahead of the video’s premiere on the big screens on Sunday, Hayden said it felt special to be a part of the project.
“It was great to be a part of something truly special, that connects us and pays respect to Noongar Culture,” Hayden said.
“To be able to see the end product up on the big screen and the message it will bring to the people at Optus Stadium will be great to see.”
Hayward welcomed everyone to Noongar country, but as a Goreng woman, acknowledged the Whadjuk people of the land.
“As a Noongar woman I welcome you to Noongar country, but I also acknowledge the Whadjuk people whose land we are on,” Hayward said.
The project was captured internally by the Club’s communications department, working closely with Olman Walley’s Boorloo Aboriginal Cultural Experiences dancers at various locations across Perth (Boorloo).
With our Indigenous Program Partner, Woodside, we have a shared commitment to reconciliation and Woodside has worked with the Club on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives and consults with the Club on the development and execution of its Reconciliation Action Plans.
Walyalup Wandju Gnulluk Nidja Yirra Yargin Noongar Boodja
Fremantle welcomes all that has gathered here on Noongar Country.
