Linguistic report on the Single Noongar Native Title Claim

Abstract

The Noongar people have brought an application for determination of native title (WAG 6006 of 2003, the Single Noongar Claim.) With reference to your discipline and expertise as a linguist, you are requested to prepare an Expert Report for filing with the Federal Court based on the published and unpublished linguistic (and relevant historical) sources and filed research. Please prepare a report addressing the following issues, where relevant:

1. Can language be used as a means of social identification of groups of people? If so, a. Can the claimant group be identified through reference to language? b. Can the claimant group be identified by reference to neighbouring language groups, if there are any?

2. Can the claimant group trace its existence (including through historical references to aboriginal language(s) or dialect(s) within the claim area and wordlists) to the people in occupation of the claim area at the time of sovereignty? Discuss any changes/developments in or maintenance of the aboriginal language(s) or dialect(s) within the claim area since sovereignty including reference to language centres and language programs.

3. Can language be used as a means of connecting people to country? If so, is this historically and currently relevant to the claimant group and the claim area? Discuss with reference to: a. Place names or sites; b. Flora including bush medicine and bush tucker; c. Fauna; and d. Dreaming stories, language and songs.

4. Reference should be made to any other matters which you think may be relevant to the issue of the association of Noongar claimants to the claim area.