The Noongar people are the Traditional Owners of the south-west of Western Australia, and they have cultural rules and responsibilities about how we use and look after the country, waterways, plants and animals.
The Noongar Six Seasons
Aboriginal people are the first sustainable fishers in Australia.
In the south-west of Western Australia, the Noongar people fish with the rhythm of the six Noongar seasons, which are an important guide to natures’ cycles, and part of a deep respect for the land, waterways, plants and animals.
The six Noongar seasons are indicated by what is happening and changing in nature, the flowering of different plants, changes in weather patterns, or seasonal abundance of different fish and animals. The seasons start and end dates are flexible, with Noongar people waiting for the cues from nature.
It is an important part of Noongar custom to only take what is needed from nature when foods were abundant and in season, and to stay sustainable by maintaining and monitoring the health of the land and waters.
Birak – season of the young (first summer)
December – January
Warm weather really sets in, with easterly winds in the morning, and a cooling sea breeze in the afternoons for those closer to the ocean. This was the time when Noongar people traditionally burnt country, to increase grazing pastures, aid in seed germination, ease mobility across the country and reduce fuel.
Noongar people lived and fished along the coast, rivers and estuaries, where mullet, bream, marron and crabs were ready to be caught.
Blue swimmer crab
Bunuru – season of adolescence (second summer)
February – March
This is the hottest time of the year where people moved to the coastal estuaries and hunted near the sea or in wetlands where it was cooler.
During Bunuru, their diet consists mainly of freshwater and seafoods such as fish and abalone. Large fish can be speared from overhanging trees along river banks.
It traditionally was, and still is, a great time for fishing and living near the water, when Herring and Ngari (salmon) are plentiful.
Australian herring
Djeran – season of adulthood (autumn)
April – May
The very hot weather starts to change. Djeran is a time of red flowers, cool nights and dewy mornings. Green shoots may begin to reappear. Noongar people started to transition away from the coast, it was a good time to hunt around rivers and spear fish such as mullet and tailor.
As the season progresses, nights become cool and damp, and days start to get cooler too, with some rain. Ngari (salmon) are prolific.
Western Australian salmon
Makuru – fertility season (winter)
June – July
This is the coldest and wettest time of the year when winds turn to the west and south, bringing rain. Many animals begin to pair up. There is an influx of mali (black swans) as they congregate and get ready to nest and breed.
As the waterways and catchments begin to fill, Noongar people traditionally moved back inland, away from the coast and changed their diet from sea foods to grazing animals such as the yongar (kangaroo).
Black swan
Djilba – season of conception (first spring)
August – September
A transitional time of year, with weather starting to change. Some days can be cold, some rainy and windy, and others sunny.
There are lots of newborn animals on the ground. Woodland birds will still be nesting, with Koolbardie (magpies) and Djidi djidi (willywag tails) protecting their nests.
Traditionally, the main food sources included large grazing animals, but it is also a great time to catch some freshwater djildjit (fish), such as the black bream.
Black bream
Kambarang – season of birth (second spring)
October – November
Kambarang is the wildflower season, with many orchids, kangaroo paws and banksias in bloom. Even the balgas (grass trees) flower, especially if they have been burnt in the past year. Quandong trees are ripening, ready for harvesting later in the season, as well as other shrubs that produced berries.
Families traditionally moved back towards the coast where frogs, tortoises and freshwater crayfish or gilgies and blue marron were caught.
Nyitting (dreamtime) stories tell us that Noongar people worked together with Kwilenas (dolphins) and shared their catch.
Smooth marron