CELEBRATING UNITY BETWEEN NYOONGAR AND MAAORI ON BOODJAR

BY TANGIORA HINAKI

In a momentous gathering at Boyagin Rock, the Maori community of Te Urupu (Perth) celebrated the blessing of a beautifully woven korowai named "Te Hononga o Ngai Te Urupu ki te Iwi Moemoea." The Korowai (Maaori cloak) was given to Nyoongar Yorga Tina Hayden as a gift.

“It was a very emotional, proud moment for me and something very special, she said.

It started in 2011 when my mom, Janet Hayden, and our Hayden family ventured out to Boyagin, a sacred rock belonging to my great grandfather and his three brothers.

I have so much respect for the Kaumatua (Maori elders). It's not about hating anybody; it's about bringing our two strong cultures together and working together.

I wondered what they had in this sheet wrapped up, and then Merv started to tell the story about Tina Hayden's Korowai.

I got a bit choked up there, and that's, yeah, it pulled at the heartstrings a little

I don't do it for gifts; I do it because of my Mum, who worked with the Maaori people in Rockingham. 

You know, it wasn't about money or gifts. It was just about being blessed. You are all in our country, and we welcome you.”

Te Mihana Maori commissioned this significant event to symbolize the deep connection between Ngai Te Urupu (Maori in Perth) and the Noongar people.

Rangatira Aaron and Diane Duncan masterfully wove the Korowai, embodying the spirit of unity and shared heritage. The ceremony honoured Nyoongar Yorga Tina Hayden and her whanau, esteemed members of the Noongar community, recognizing their unwavering support and commitment to fostering cultural connections over the years.

As the Korowai was blessed, heartfelt sentiments filled the air. The Maaori community expressed gratitude for Tina and her family’s contributions, stating, “May you serve your purpose and protect our tangata whenua, and be our ever reminder of the connection between two cultures walking as one in years to come.”