Ngadju Parna and People
The Ngadju people, also known as Marlpa, are the Traditional Custodians of a vast and diverse region of southern Western Australia. Ngadju’s connection to this land – stretching from the coastal edge between Point Malcolm and Israelite Bay, north to the tall southern woodlands, west to the wheatbelt, and east across the arid edge of the Nullarbor – goes back more than 50, 000 years.
Ngadju Parna includes a significant part of the Great Western Woodlands, the largest remaining area of intact temperate woodland on Earth. This ecosystem is home to many unique plant and animal species, including the rare Jimerlana Mallee and the nationally important Malleefowl populations.
Today, Ngadju people are continuing to strengthen their cultural connection to Parna. The Ngadju Rangers play a vital role in caring for this special landscape. Through a combination of traditional knowledge and modern science, they work to manage fire, control invasive species, protect sacred cultural sites, and conserve biodiversity across the woodlands, plains, and coast.
In 2014 and again in 2017, after a long legal journey that began in 1995, the Federal Court of Australia formally recognised the Ngadju people’s native title rights over more than 102, 000 square kilometres of their ancestral lands. Ngadju native title recognition marked a significant affirmation of their enduring connection to land and culture.
Today, Ngadju people continue to pursue further recognition through the Ngadju Mia Wamu claim over Norseman township and surrounding areas. This claim is currently awaiting determination and represents an important step toward securing comprehensive land justice and cultural continuity for future generations.
Ngadju culture remains strong, embodying the people’s enduring connection to Country, their cultural leadership, and relationship with their land.
Contact us for more information
Get in touch with us using the following form or give us a call on (08) 9462 3500
