Whadjuk ILUA Sea Country Statement
Leighton Beach, Whadjuk Noongar boodja
Our Sea. Our Story. Our Sovereignty.
Noongar people have lived with, cared for, and governed this Country for over 50,000 years — but in truth, we have been here since kora, the beginning. The ocean, the rivers, the coastal plains and the hills — they are not separate from us. We are one.
Since the invasion of 1829, Noongar people have endured nearly two centuries of violent displacement. Our rivers have been straightened. Our shores dredged, blocked, privatised. Our sacred islands turned into prisons. We have survived destruction designed to sever us from Sea Country — but our connection remains unbroken.
Today, we stand not in protest — but in power.
Under the South West Native Title Settlement, our rights have been recognised — but recognition alone does not restore justice. Sea Country still faces growing threats: environmental degradation, overdevelopment, climate pressure, and exclusion from decision-making.
We are not stakeholders.
We are rights-holders.
Our sovereignty has never been ceded.
It coexists — and it commands respect.
The Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation, on behalf of our people, now reclaims our rightful place as co-governors of Whadjuk ILUA Sea Country.
We call for more than consultation.
We demand co-governance — grounded in cultural authority, informed by living knowledge, and enacted through meaningful, ongoing partnership.
This means:
Direct involvement in all decisions that impact Sea Country — from policy to planning to project execution.
Recognition that heritage is not just about the past — it is about living culture, identity, and law.
Joint design and implementation of environmental approvals, assessments, and stewardship frameworks.
Long-term resourcing and support for Whadjuk-led processes that uphold our responsibilities to Country.
We bring more than a voice. We bring thousands of generations of wisdom.
When Noongar people lead, we don’t just protect Sea Country —
We heal it.
We restore balance.
We offer pathways to resilience that are ecological, cultural, and spiritual.
This is not about inclusion.
It is about rightful leadership.
It’s time to work with us, not around us.
Whadjuk ILUA Sea Country. Not forgotten. Not broken.
Still standing — and rising.
Download: Whadjuk Sea Country Statement (PDF 294KB)
Acknowledgements
The Whadjuk ILUA Sea Country Statement has been led by Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation, the recognised governance body for Whadjuk ILUA Noongar people under the South West Native Title Settlement.
We honour the Whadjuk Elders, cultural knowledge holders, and community members whose guidance, stories, and lived experience shaped this Statement and continue to guide our responsibilities to Sea Country.
It was co-developed in collaboration with South West Aboriginal Land Services (SWALS), supporting cultural heritage coordination and delivery across Whadjuk Country.
Coastal Connections, through lead consultant Claudia Franca de Abreu, facilitated the drafting process and co-design, integrating traditional knowledge systems with policy and planning strategies.
We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Dr. Abbie Rogers and Dr. Matt Navarro from the UWA Oceans Institute, who provided scientific and ecological insights to strengthen this Statement’s environmental and resilience vision.
Umanity Group supported this project through strategic, legal, and logistical assistance to empower Whadjuk-led governance.
