ORAL MCGUIRE: CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS

For a little over a decade, Oral McGuire has been working with Greening Australia and Yaraguia Enterprises, a group of Ballardong Nyungar people, to regenerate hundreds of hectares of land in south-west Western Australia using traditional knowledge systems and land management practices. As part of this work, the Marlak Niran Revegetation Project, at Avondale Park near Beverley, aims to create a Ballardong cultural landscape for future generations. Rosie Halsmith spoke with McGuire.

Rosie Halsmith — Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name’s Oral McGuire. I’m a Ballardong and Whadjuk Nyungar. I’m a Nyungar person who sees and understands our cultural responsibilities. Through my bloodline, I have strong connections with the lands of the Ballardong people [in the south-west of Western Australia], which extend out to the