Heather Blacklock is a Balladong, Noongar woman from Western Australia, who now lives in Brisbane, Queensland. The word “Noongar” can be roughly translated into English as “human being". Noongar country extends from Jurien Bay in the north, to the southern coast, and east to Ravensthorpe and Southern Cross.

Aboriginal Groups of the South West of Western Australia

Prior to European settlement the Noongar people, 13 dialectal groups, shared a common language and culture. Today the Noongar language is regarded as endangered, although there has been a revival of interest in recent years. Traditional Noongar made a living by hunting and trapping a variety of game, including kangaroos, possums and wallabies; by fishing using spears and fish traps; as well as by gathering edible wild plants including wattle seeds. They divided the year into six distinct seasons that corresponded with moving to different habitats and feeding patterns.The Noongar lived in large extended family groups, and their way of life included a respect and reverence for the land. The ecological damage done to this region, through clearing, introduced species, and by ferral animals is severe, and has resulted in a high proportion of plants and animals being threatened and endangered.

Carrolup River Native Settlement (c, 1951) near Katanning.

From 1890 to 1958, the lives and lifestyles of Noongar people were subject to the Native Welfare Act. It is estimated that 10 to 25% of Noongar children were forcibly “adopted” by the government during these years, in part of what has become known as the Stolen Generations. Heather’s mother was raised on one of the local missions – a time of her life she rarely spoke of. However, Heather explores his aspect of her family’s past visually through many of her paintings.

Heather was born in 1965 in the Avon Valley town of Beverley, 130km south east of Perth noted for its historic Art Deco, Colonial and Federation style architecture.

Heather’s grandfather, Angus Wallam, is a well-known Noongar elder, author and active member of the Mt Barker community, involved in cultural restoration projects in the Wagin Native Reserve.

“I’m very much focused on looking at the good, constructive elements of the past and trying to keep those elements alive for the betterment of our culture,” Heather said.

“The young people might not get a chance to go and fish or camp out or set fish traps or paint with ochre, but if we keep the story alive, they can at least share in the rich cultural heritage we all have inside of us.”
 

Map of the West Australian wheatbelt, showing the town of Beverley

Heather’s grandfather, Angus Wallam