NAIDOC week has been commemorated with a cultural event at the Ocean Reef Marina site featuring discussions about indigenous bush food, language and tool making, as well as plans to reflect this heritage throughout the development.
The cultural experiences were led by Yunga Foundation, a 100 per cent Aboriginal owned and led local organisation, with a group of local residents, businesses and other stakeholders.
Yunga Foundation has been engaged since early 2020 to work with local Whadjuk people on a co-design process, identifying traditional stories and themes to guide the development of Ocean Reef Marina.
Yunga Foundation and the Ocean Reef Marina project team will continue to engage with Aboriginal people into the project implementation phase, with a focus on public art and interpretation, business opportunities and procurement.
Local residents are invited to speak with Yunga Foundation and the rest of the project team at the Ocean Reef Marina community event on Sunday November 22, 10am to 4pm.
As stated by Lands Minister Ben Wyatt:
"The Ocean Reef and Joondalup areas have an incredibly rich Whadjuk heritage as a place where the Whadjuk traditional owners gathered coastal food, celebrated connection to country and sea, and moved with the water and seasons.
"NAIDOC Week is a great opportunity to respect and celebrate this culture, which will play an integral part in the planning, development and future operation of the marina.
"Ocean Reef Marina will be a place where the Whadjuk culture is celebrated through art and interpretive spaces, and where connection to country will be reflected through indigenous business and job opportunities."
As stated by Joondalup MLA Emily Hamilton:
"Our Joondalup community truly values the indigenous culture and heritage of the Whadjuk people.
"The NAIDOC celebration hosted by the Yunga Foundation at Marine Rescue Whitfords last week provided a great opportunity to hear from elders, share traditional food and understand more about the Whadjuk stories of those that once lived along the coast at Ocean Reef.
"It's wonderful to have this Aboriginal heritage included as part of the design process of the Ocean Reef Marina development in a meaningful way, and at the onset of the project."
