Aboriginal people regard Country as an entity which holds their ancestor’s stories and spirits; this profound connection has had an immense influence on their way of life.
Narlijia Tours offer Narlt Pigram, an Indigenous Yawuru man, as a source of Dreamtime knowledge and its seasonal bush tucker tasting experiences. Learn about his family traditions while tasting seasonal bush tucker.
Neville Poelina
Neville Poelina, a Nykina man and third-generation pearl diver, was destined to share his people’s stories. Boasting deep traditional roots throughout Kimberley and an intimate knowledge of its terrain, Neville began Uptuyu Adventures back in 2002 – offering visitors tours that introduce them to local Indigenous culture as well as taking them directly to their own personal’spot’ in the country!
Children will appreciate this book that explores the lives and cultures of Indigenous children (past and present) through storytelling and stunning illustrations. It covers topics like family relationships, home meaning and the land as a learning ground as well as what language to use when hunting food as well as music dance and art’s role within Indigenous culture.
Aboriginal Australians would travel from waterhole to waterhole when traversing arid regions, especially when gathering yams or digging for roots. On Fraser Island, the Butchulla people have an explanation for where water came from – Tanya Vernes first heard this tale from Bessie Doonday as part of her Master’s degree research on using traditional knowledge and science together for managing country.
Dreaming is the term used to refer to spiritual ancestor figures of each tribe and nation across Australia. Unfortunately, English cannot adequately capture it so Dreaming has become an umbrella term for Indigenous spiritual concepts.
This book, designed for teachers to use in their classrooms, presents key foundational knowledge of Aboriginal culture through fictional storytelling, quizzes and crossword puzzles. Additionally, it discusses complex colonization issues while remaining educational.
Brenton E McKenna, an Aborigine artist, illustrator and graphic novelist from Quandamooka in Western Australia wanted to craft an Australian comic saga about pearl diving in Broome that was both entertaining and inspiring – an important story that everyone in Australia should read! To do this he overcame many obstacles – only eventually succeeding with creating this entertaining but inspirational graphic novel!
Narlijia Tours
Broome is an eclectic tropical delight that blends ancient Aboriginal culture with contemporary frontier life. Here, red dirt meets aqua ocean; pearl boutiques stand beside casual breweries; world-class diving experiences can be had while unhurried camel rides provide leisurely rides; indigenous art galleries showcase vibrant music scenes while its beaches provide ample entertainment options – it truly offers something for everyone in Broome!
Experience the rich history and culture of Kimberley with an authentic Aboriginal guide. Under their tutelage, it’s easy to gain respect and understanding for this spiritually significant area. While visiting rock art sites requires permits which your tour operator will arrange on your behalf, when visiting sacred sites it is important that visitors remain mindful by sticking to marked walkways, not touching rock surfaces directly and leaving no debris behind and not lighting fires.
Narlijia Tours provides cultural cruises of Roebuck Bay’s idyllic beaches and waterways for an in-depth experience, perfect for exploring its stunning beaches and waterways with expert guidance. Join Narlijia for either an early morning or sunset cultural cruise experience and learn about Yawuru people traditions from your guide Bart Pigram while feasting on seasonal bush tucker, listening to live traditional music, and taking in breathtaking sunset views over Gantheaume Point.
Bart is part of the Pigram-Puertollano-Minybal family, an illustrious lineage of pearling workers and musicians. His knowledge stems from living a saltwater lifestyle; and is shared in an engaging manner so you can gain further insights into his culture and language.
The Jetty to Jetty App is an invaluable resource for visitors interested in exploring Broome’s local Aboriginal culture and history independently. Featuring audio recordings of traditional Yawuru tales told directly by those familiar with them, this resource allows users to immerse themselves in Broome at their own pace. You can download it here or visit its website for more details.
The video entitled ‘Ngaji Gurrjin’ (G’Day) below provides an excellent introduction to Broome’s Yawuru culture and legends, created by students at Papunya School as part of an unprecedented collaboration of non-Indigenous artists, writers, and performers with Indigenous artists and writers.
Snubfin Dolphin Cruise
Roebuck Bay provides the ideal setting for this unforgettable adventure. Not only does the Snubfin Dolphin Eco Cruise from Broome offer stunning views, but visitors also gain insight into nature and marine conservation initiatives – this tour is a must-do activity if you want to create memories that will endure for years!
The Snubfin Dolphin Eco cruise from Broome provides an opportunity to see these small dolphins in their natural environment. You’ll cruise along Gantheaume Point and Reddel Beach where chances of sighting these animals are particularly high, where our knowledgeable crew will share insights into them throughout your journey.
One of the highlights of this trip is a spotting tour conducted by an experienced marine biologist guide. They will offer insightful commentary about local areas and wildlife while helping you spot various bird species as well as snubfin dolphins in their natural environments.
Snubfin dolphins can be found in their natural environment at Gantheaume Point and Reddel beach area of Roebuck Bay. You might witness them playing, diving and foraging for food; truly an impressive sight for nature enthusiasts! This magnificent creature should not be missed.
Naji people believe two sisters are spirit beings who come out of the ocean and dry up on what is now Reddel Beach, searching for Njarri Jaari (native bush onions). One day a bushman comes upon these spirits but knows they must return back into the water once curiousity passes them by.
The Thukeri story is an origin dreamtime tale from South Australia’s Ngarrindjeri people that describes how the red waratah became its current color. These landowners strive to preserve and share their culture with future generations.
Bart Pigram founded Narlijia Experiences more than 10 years ago to share his love for Broome and show people its rich culture. His diverse background includes representing Australia in Taekwondo and Youth Work; but what really motivates him is sharing his heritage. A proud Yawuru man, Bart enjoys sharing the beauty and abundance of Broome through Narlijia Experiences tours.
Mangrove Walk
Broome’s Leschenault Inlet offers stunning mangrove forests to admire during the dry season, when their roots penetrate the salty water below and extend further downward into its depths – helping protect against floods and cyclones. At this location is also found the southern portion of Mangrove Walk; an accessible walking path allowing visitors to observe this ecosystem from above while discovering information signs providing details about both natural and cultural significance of mangroves in Broome’s region.
Dreamtime stories told by Indigenous Australians across Australia describe ancestral spirits who created our landscape and everything it contains. One such legend from western New South Wales involves Tiddalick the Frog who drinks all of the water in a billabong and causes its animals to cry for help, prompting one such tribe’s tale of Tiddalick the Frog being called upon for assistance by other animals in need.
Walmajarri people in north-west Western Australia share a similar tale featuring Nyarlku the Bilby. In it he found all of the pearlshells (jakurli) he needed in Lake Paruku; however his small arms could not carry all of them home with him so he burrowed beneath Broome to store them all underground until his arms became strong enough.
Indigenous culture emphasizes the importance of connecting children to country from birth. This may involve food gathering or hunting activities or art and music practices – all essential parts of community health. This book serves as an excellent introduction to life for Indigenous children both past and present.
Dreamtime story that provides youngsters with valuable lessons about how their behavior impacts others. Frank Martin, grandfather to Indigenous acrobat and performer Jiller-rii narrates this tale about Min-Na-Wee who rolls the crocodile. Read its explanation here.