Many stories at Boorla Bardip tour

To raise awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and achievements, each year we celebrate significant events including NAIDOC Week.

NAIDOC Week 2023 was held from 2-9 July. Members of our Board, Executive Management Group, Reconciliation Working Group and wider GESB staff attended an Aboriginal tour of WA Museum Boorla Bardip.

Learn more about our reconciliation activities.

History, story and truth telling

The Aboriginal tour of the WA Museum Boola Bardip was facilitated by a local Aboriginal woman and explored the Aboriginal exhibits in the museum in detail, with a fascinating blend of story, culture, history and science.

Attendees experienced a range of emotions while learning about and seeing artifacts related to the long history and culture of Aboriginal peoples in Western Australia (WA), including the colonisation of the Traditional Owners.

The truth telling efforts of the WA Museum were emphasised, including the events of the Pinjarra massacre, the cultural importance and prison history of Rottnest Island, and the experience of Stolen Generations in WA.

The tour guide had family connections to each of the three key historic eras that the tour explored, bringing a unique and rich personal experience and immediacy to the history and truth being told.

Sharing stories

Staff member Robert Powell said the experience was eye-opening and presented a multi-faceted history.

“The tour was a really valuable experience for me. Learning about Songlines and how they are embedded in Aboriginal culture was my biggest learning from the exhibition, and I’m eager to learn more about it.," Robert said.

“It was inspiring to see so many diverse works of art and artifacts from the different Aboriginal communities from all over Western Australia. Our tour guide seamlessly wove her family history and truth telling into many of the exhibitions – including the Stolen Generation, the Pinjarra Massacre and life on the missions.”

"It was an eye-opening experience. If you haven’t been on the Aboriginal tour at Boola Bardip, I’d definitely recommend it.”