The Noongar people are the traditional owners of the south-west of Western Australia and have been for over 45,000 years. In the Noongar calendar, the months of October and November bring the season of Kambarang. 

Mainstream education teaches the four seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, but Western Australia’s Noongar Aboriginal people live by six seasons. These seasons clearly indicate change in weather. Aboriginal culture dates back tens of thousands of years and reveals an astounding knowledge and understanding of the environment.

Through this ancient wisdom, the Noongar people (sometimes spelled Nyoongar or Nyungar) live across the south-west of Western Australia, from Jurien Bay in the north, east to Moora and Esperance in the south. Life was lived according to the six seasons, moving with the availability of various food sources, weather patterns and cultural habits.

The six Noongar Aboriginal Seasons are:

  • Birak (December-January)
  • Bunuru (February-March)
  • Djeran (April-May)
  • Makuru (June-July)
  • Djilba (August-September)
  • Kambarang (October-November)

Kambarang

Kambarang means ‘rains decreasing’ and brings warmer days and brilliant blossoms of the Australian Christmas Tree or Moojar. Bark from the tree was often obtained to make shields and the gum that oozes from the wound can be collected and eaten raw as a sweet treat. Many communities moved closer to the coastal wetlands for an abundance of estuary fish, nesting birds and birds’ eggs.  Quandong fruit and yams were also collected.

Artist, Rikki Garlett

The beautiful image above was created by Rikki Garlett, a local Ballardong artist who grew up in Northam. Her ambition is to create traditional art, inspired by the stories of her culture shared to her as a child. She sees her art as a way to share knowledge and connect with the community. If you would like Rikki for other projects, please contact Wheatbelt NRM.

Noongar Season Dateless Planner

WA’s Wheatbelt NRM organisation, in conjunction with the Wheatbelt NRM Elders Advisory Group, has produced a wonderful yearly planner laid out with the Noongar six seasons. It’s a dateless planner and includes photographs and stories from all over the Wheatbelt along with art from local Ballardong artist Rikki Garlett. You’ll discover more about the six Noongar Aboriginal Seasons and the unique Wheatbelt environment. The planner is for sale from Wheatbelt NRM’s website.

The first astronomers

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were the world’s first astronomers, studying the night sky and navigating using the stars long before Babylonia, Greek or Roman astronomers. Tens of thousands of years of culture and heritage are reflected in WA’s night sky. Astrotourism WA acknowledge and pay tribute to the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Western Australia. We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait people as the world’s first astronomers and their continuing connection to lands, sky, waters and communities. We offer our respect to them, their cultures, and to Elders both past and present.

FOLLOW THE SIX NOONGAR SEASONS

The Noongar Season Dateless Planner shows the way to celebrate the year from a different perspective.