At Wilson Primary School, we honour and celebrate the deep cultural heritage of the Wadjuk Noongar people, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our school stands. Kaartidjiin means knowledge in Noongar, and through our local learning programs, we aim to foster respect, understanding, and connection to Country.
Our school is surrounded by registered Aboriginal heritage sites, including the Djarlgarro Beelier (Canning River), a sacred waterway shaped by the Waugal, the ancestral rainbow serpent. Nearby ceremonial sites such as Wadjup, close to Centenary Park, and Beaton Park are places of spiritual and cultural significance, reflecting the long-standing presence and traditions of Noongar people in the Wilson area.
A highlight of our cultural engagement is the stunning artwork created by local Noongar artist and school parent, Aaron Donaldson. This piece is a visual representation of the land surrounding Wilson Primary School. The blue sash running through the artwork symbolises Djarlgarro Beelier, flowing through Country and connecting people and places. Hierarchical meeting places are depicted throughout, showing the importance of gathering and community. The interconnecting dots represent people travelling across the land, while the varied colours reflect the different families and communities connected to the area – in a post-colonial context, these can be seen as the different suburbs that now make up our region. The green shapes signify traditional sites used for hunting and ceremonial purposes, grounding the artwork in cultural knowledge and practice.
Our school’s Noongar-based totemic system encourages students to engage with traditional ecological knowledge and sustainability practices, inspired by the six Noongar seasons and the values embedded in Noongar lore. Through storytelling, environmental learning, and cultural events, Wilson Primary School is committed to reconciliation, cultural responsiveness, and ensuring that all students – whether from First Nations backgrounds or from the many cultures represented in our diverse community – feel connected, respected, and empowered.
