A ceremony of remembrance, truth, and healing held at Wadjemup

Rhiannon Clarke – November 11, 2024

For most visitors, Rottnest Island is known as a picturesque holiday destination. But for Aboriginal people, particularly the Whadjuk Noongar people, Wadjemup—its original name—is a place of profound sorrow and remembrance.

Once a prison for thousands of Aboriginal men and boys, Wadjemup is now recognised as a site of historical suffering, resilience, and strength. On Saturday, a powerful ceremony – Wadjemup Wirin Bidi – was held on the island, bringing together Indigenous leaders, Elders, and families from across Western Australia to honour those who endured and to initiate a process of reconciliation, healing, and unity.

The ceremony addressed the painful truths of Wadjemup’s history and the trauma inflicted upon Aboriginal communities through colonisation and incarceration. Around 4000 Aboriginal men and boys were imprisoned on the island, with at least 373 of them buried there.

For Member of the Wadjemup Aboriginal Reference Group and respected Noongar Elder Uncle Richard Walley, the event marked an essential step in confronting this difficult history.

“Events like these are very important because of what it does. It addresses the truth. And when you get to the truth, regardless of how traumatic it is, it has to be faced,” he said.

Mr Walley’s words underscored the necessity of facing history directly, seeing such ceremonies as a means of sharing knowledge, fostering understanding, and creating a path toward genuine healing.

Among those gathered to commemorate were representatives from Aboriginal communities across the state. For many, the event was not just about Wadjemup but about recognising similar traumas experienced in communities throughout Western Australia.

Member for Kimberley Divina D’Anna reflected on the importance of the day for all Aboriginal people, including those from her own region.

“It’s not only important for the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation in which this land is, but it’s also for a lot of the Kimberley mobs too that have come down,” she said.

“There are a lot of people that were buried here, far from their homes and have had their lives taken here.”

Ms D’Anna’s words highlighted the shared pain and history that bind Indigenous communities across the state. The ceremony served as a unifying force, bringing people together to acknowledge and honour the ancestors who never returned to their families.

The ceremony also paid tribute to the resilience of Aboriginal women, who kept their communities and traditions alive through times of immense hardship.

Whadjuk Noongar, Baladong, Yuat, and Kungarakan woman, Meg McGuire, acknowledged the critical role of women in preserving culture and caring for country, even when faced with the absence of the men who had been taken from them.

“I think about the women that were left on the mainland to carry the traditions, the laws, the customs, and caring for country… how we commemorate their contributions and the way that the women have contributed to carrying our culture on in spite of that,” she said.

The recognition of women’s strength resonated throughout the day, honouring the quiet but enduring work of mothers, grandmothers, and sisters who maintained their communities’ spirit and connection to country.

The event was also marked by an official apology from the Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook, acknowledging the government’s role in the wrongful imprisonment and suffering of Aboriginal men on Wadjemup. For many present, the apology was welcomed, though some emphasised the need for further action.

Owner-operator of Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours, Walter McGuire, noted that while apologies from both the state and federal governments hold significance, they need to be accompanied by tangible steps toward justice and reparations.

“The Federal Government of Australia said sorry. But they still haven’t paid the rent. The State Government… has just said sorry. It’s time to pay the rent. And it needs to be backdated,” he said.

For Mr McGuire, the call for justice extended beyond words, demanding recognition of sovereignty, reparations, and compensation for the generations impacted by colonisation. His words reflect a desire for meaningful change that goes beyond symbolic gestures and acknowledges the debt owed to Indigenous Australians.

Mr Walley also recognised the importance of the apology but stressed that a commitment to real action was essential for genuine reconciliation.

“Getting an apology from the Premier and also mentioned from the Governor is very significant because it’s come from the very establishment that created the processes… This is the remnants of colonisation, and those who are beneficiaries of colonisation should understand that it came at a cost, and this is one of those costs,” he said.

For Mr Walley, the apology symbolised an acknowledgment of the deep-rooted pain that colonisation caused Indigenous Australians and the responsibility that lies with current institutions to address and rectify these wrongs.

The event was a reminder of Wadjemup’s dual identity as both a place of historical trauma and a site for future reconciliation and healing.

For Mr McGuire and his family, who have shared Wadjemup’s history through tours for the past six years, this gathering was part of a personal and collective journey toward healing.

“We do it in a very conciliatory way, in a gentle way, but also that’s really helped our healing as a family as well. And sharing that with others has been a real privilege,” he said.

For those present, the ceremony was not only about remembering history but also about taking concrete steps forward. Mr Walley encapsulated this sentiment, expressing a commitment to hold onto the past while moving toward a more just future.

“It’s our history, and we have to hold onto that, so it’s also our responsibility to do something about it and move forward together,” he said.

The Wadjemup ceremony brought people together in a spirit of unity, resilience, and truth. As D’Anna noted, the gathering was “about really recognising and acknowledging the shared history of this place and many other places across our state”.

By remembering, honouring, and acting together, communities across Western Australia are laying the groundwork for a future built on understanding, respect, and justice.