Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee
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Interview with Elder Dr Wayne Webb
Picture
Dr Wayne Webb Pibulmun Widandi Elder
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​Q: Tell us about the six Noongar seasons and how they are different than the four European seasons? 
Wayne:
 The season are everything! Life of our mob is all about the seasons. The wheel of seasonal change is because nature chooses when seasons begin and end. Pibulmun Yunungjarli (traditional owners) actually have 12 cycles, mini seasons, which if you really observe it, it shows you. Having no written language makes it harder to fit into European ways cause it’s not always willing to fit into bi-monthly changes especially with climate changing naturally as well as humankind pushing against the natural cycle. 

Q: How did the seasons guide traditional activities? 
Wayne:
 It’s about following the food resources & then moving on to the next resource, so you don't endanger that plant or animal by taking too much. 
It’s farming the country, in our case farming Pibulmun Boodjar. It's clearing the "fuel load" by camping. Imagine a family of 30-70 Yunungjarli collecting wood for cooking fires, toolmaking, having a warming fire in front of your mia (shelter) maybe ten or more going each evening. Let alone construction. 
it’s about pruning bushes, fruits, vegetables and berries. Picking kaloor (emu plum) then firing it to produce again in 2 years time. Scoring the wattle to produce bush lolly or digging up djbaak to gather its crop, always taking care to leave and replant so next we know where to come. It’s about not taking boodjarri (pregnant animals), fish and birds. Its setting fire to certain patches of bush and grasslands for regeneration and providing feed for yongaras (kangaroos). Above all, it's Boodjara, Boodja (Mother earth) saying to us, I will provide for you, if you help me keep the circle of life turning. 

Q: Have you noticed changes in the Noongar seasons? 
​
Wayne:
We have to make people understand that our planet, nala Boodjara, mother earth, doesn't need us, humans, to continue....yes it will change.. it has changed there will be dramatic species change in our animal, bird and plant life. We already see this especially with bird species looking for non-salty water and new nesting habitats. The most adaptable species will flourish. so, instead of fighting to tame country, we need to work with her just as our ancestors have. The biggest challenge is how to make two completely opposite ways of life, work together...we can't. However, we can and must do a better job...if we want to survive. 

Q: How can we better manage our waterways to adapt to climate change?... 
Wayne: From the catchment to inlet (gabbi) we see interrupted water flow. Water stress breaks breeding cycles for waterbirds. Many plants are double flowering making them susceptible to diseases, natural and introduced. Fish breeding grounds affected by manmade openings, mismanagement, water capture and blocking of tributaries by invasive plants. The reeds, the warkles whiskers are not prolific enough now to filter pesticides, cattle waste and rubbish. We are in a climate emergency but we need to support other states and territories where our weather patterns are affected by their actions.
  • Home
  • WICC News
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer EOI
    • Upcoming Events >
      • Soil Testing EOI 2025
      • EW Community Update
      • Carbon in Farming
      • Holistic Management Workshop
      • Dung Beetle EOI
    • Membership >
      • WICC Membership Form
      • OKGG Membership Sign-Up
    • Funding Opportunities >
      • Soil Testing
      • Fencing and Revegetation
    • Report A Pig
  • Support Us
    • Kwoorabup Community Nursery >
      • Nursery Volunteer Register
    • Donate
  • About
    • Projects >
      • Current Projects >
        • Community for Cockies >
          • Plants Used by Carnaby's Black Cockatoo
        • Saving Boordenitj – Salvaging Bittern Habitat in Southwest WA
        • Cockies for Cockies
        • Healthy Estuaries WA
        • Dung Beetle Program: Phase 2
        • Ferals
      • Previous Projects >
        • Waste to Net Zero (Biochar Program)
        • OKGG Owingup/Kent Grower Group
        • Soilwise
        • WIGG the Wilson Inlet Grower Group
        • UPtake
    • Our Plans >
      • Lindesay Link Conservation Action Plan
      • WICC Proteacea Vegetation Survey 2016
      • WICC Strategic Plan and Constitution
      • Wilson Inlet Management Strategy
    • Meet the Team!
    • Our Catchment
    • Contact Us
  • Eungedup
    • Why Eungedup Wetlands needs to be preserved!
    • How Your Donation will be Use
    • How Eungedup Wetlands will be Managed
    • Our Donors
  • Learning Centre
    • Sustainable Agriculture >
      • Cartoon Collection - Earls Adventures >
        • Managing Water in a Drying Climate
        • Feral Management OKGG
        • Arum Lilies
      • Collection of Dougie the dung beetle cartoons >
        • Rotational Grazing
        • Stock Health
        • Pasture Diversity
        • Soil Chemistry/Nutrient Efficiency
        • Soil Carbon
        • Soil Biology
      • Interviews with local farmers
    • Biodiversity >
      • Interview with Marino Bocuzzi
      • The Abby Carnaby Chronicles
      • Weeds
      • Feral Management
      • Seagrass Report
      • Flora Surveys
      • Interview with Elders >
        • Interview with Elder Vernice Gillies
        • Elder Lynette Knapp
        • Interview with Dr Wayne Webb
        • Interview with Aunty Carol Petterson
        • Interview with Uncle Lester Coyne
        • Interview with Menang Elder Aden Eades
        • Aboriginal Rangers - back on country!
    • Waterways >
      • Wilson Inlet Estuary Sandbar Openings
      • Sub Catchment Reports for Wilson Inlet
    • How to Object to Mineral Titles
    • Our Data
    • Privacy Policy