Meekatharra
The majority of international visitors coming to Australia rank "experiencing Aboriginal culture" near the top of their list of activities.
Unfortunately, some visitors leave the country without learning any Indigenous history or finding any cultural sites.
If tourists take the Great Northern Highway in Western Australia, via Meekatharra, they can't miss it.
The Yulella Aboriginal Corporation, the Yugunga-Nya and Ngoonooru Wadjari people and the Shire of Meekatharra built a 3.6 kilometre walkway to raise awareness of the significant biodiversity of the rangelands and the rich Aboriginal heritage.
Meekatharra, population 1000, is about 765 kilometres north east of Perth and according to Meekatharra Shire CEO Tom Hartman, it's 'bang in the centre' of the state. "We're in a locality where we can interpret the rangelands to the extent that we want to because of our prime position," he says.
"We've got a major highway going through and this walkway is an opportunity to capitalise on the international market, as well as the thousands of Australians who pass through the town each year."
The project, funded with more than $22,000 from the Australian Government Envirofund, involved 20 Indigenous young people, who helped build the walkway over four months.
"The project has brought the community together plus it gives everybody a sense of ownership," Tom says.
"It lifts the skills of the Indigenous young people and interprets their ancestors' stories, telling the story of the town, plus it provides training and employment opportunities."
The meandering pathway has 14 interpretive signs identifying the natural features along the banks of Meekatharra Creek. Visitors can take in a dual interpretation of European information and the Indigenous people's perspective of vegetation and natural features.
"The interpretation highlights the Indigenous people's contact with land, the principles of ecologically sustainable rangeland management, such as harvesting native flora, and the rich vegetation found in the area," Tom says.
Visiting tourists will quickly learn that Meekatharra is home to two culturally distinct Aboriginal groups - the Ngoonooru Wadjari whose territory stretches westward from Meekatharra as much as 300km, and the Yugunga-Nya whose land is to the east.
The Ngoonoru Wadjari are part of the broader Wajarri or Wadjari group whose country extends almost to the west coast, while the Yugunga-Nya people have associations with the Western desert peoples to the east.
Some say that the name Meekatharra comes from 'mikadah' or 'migadah', which is a Wajarri word meaning 'hollow' or 'depression'.
Visitors can see the sites of temporary camps made by the nomadic Aborigines, which are located near Mikadah Soak and 'bumba' (camel soak), along Meekatharra Creek.
Tourists can also learn that Indigenous people once visited the Granites, a site a few kilometres north-west of the trail where there is evidence of long-term and extensive activity in the flakes and chips from stone tool-making. Aboriginal people still consider this to be a highly significant site.
Work is also being done to rehabilitate and restore the creek to a more natural state. Attempts have been made over the years to re-direct floodwaters flowing along the creek but all of these modifications to the natural course of the creek have impacted on its natural state. Plans are now underway to remove soil, reinstate natural flow channels and revegetate with indigenous species.
More information
Tom Hartman: (08) 9981 1002
Key
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