Noongar welcome shows mettle

A Welcome to Country sculpture created by the local indigenous community, Katanning Landcare and Katanning Clontarf Academy was unveiled to more than 70 people at Lake Ewlyamartup last week.

The sculpture recognises the long-standing cultural connection between Noongar people and Lake Ewlyamartup and is the culmination of a year-and-a-half of story gathering, planning and work.

The family theme of the sculpture is recognition of the historic and contemporary cultural importance of the lake as a place for family.

A special welcome, written by the elders of Katanning specifically for this project, invites visitors of all cultures and backgrounds to enjoy and appreciate Lake Ewlyamartup.

The ceremony featured a welcome to country in Noongar language by Katanning elder Gabrielle Hansen.

Katanning elder Graham Eades described the history of the lke as a supermarket for Aboriginal people in early times, a place that provided for all of their needs.

Katanning Landcare program manager Ella Maesepp, Clontarf student Nui Andrews and professional sculpture artist Voytek Kozlowski told the crowd the story of the sculpture’ journey from a vision and a plan, to individual scrap metal pieces through to the finished product.

Shire president Liz Guidera and students from Katanning Clontarf Academy executed the unveiling, removing the shroud from the 2.65m high sculpture, revealing the family of characters to the audience.

The project was funded by Lottery West.