The Spectacles Wetlands area is a significant site for Aboriginal people in Western Australia.
The wetlands are a part of the indigenous territory known as the Beeliar Nation and are identified as the area of tribal elder Midgegooroo.
Midgegooroo and his people were transitional and, like their ancestors, moved within the Beeliar territory according to the particular season.
The Spectacles Wetlands is part of the major and ancient trade route that follows the freshwater lakes linking the Aboriginal peoples of the Murray and Swan rivers. The area has cultural significance as a ceremonial, camping and food gathering site. The 360 hectares of wetlands are located north-west of Kwinana, about 40 kilometres south of Perth.
Since purchasing the land in the early 1970s, Alcoa has worked closely with state government departments to ensure the Spectacles Wetland retains its high conservation value.
The Spectacles Cultural tours began in 2004 as an Alcoa sponsored event which was part of the town of Kwinana’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
They have continued seasonally since that time, funded by the Alcoa Foundation.(link through to Alcoa Foundation)
Members of the Medina Aboriginal Cultural Community participate in running the tour program which attracts significant in-kind support from the town of Kwinana.
The tour program runs approximately half the year, from the end of October through to April and caters for school groups, local community members and the tourist market.
The tours promote the rich indigenous heritage and history in the area and provide an interactive experience involving traditional dance and song, a bush walk identifying local flora bush tucker and a simulated tortoise egg dig.
Designed to improve cultural understanding of the local indigenous people and their history, the tours have proven to be very popular with local schools.
Every school group taking part in a tour receives an educational resource kit to assist teachers with class room follow up activities.
For further information on Spectacles cultural tours click here .
