Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation

Ngatanwarr (Welcome)

The following Welcome to Country statement (in a Maar language and in English) is from the Eastern Maar.

‘Watnanda koong meerreeng, tyama-ngan malayeetoo’
Ngatanwarr
Ngeerang meerreeng-an
Peepay meerreeng-an
Kakayee meerreeng-an
Wartee meerreeng-an
Maara-wanoong, laka. Wanga-kee-ngeeye
Meereeng-ngeeye, pareeyt, nganpeeyan, weeyn, wooroot, poondeeya-teeyt
Meerreeng-ngeeye, nhakateeyt, woorroong, leehnan, mooroop, keerray
Meerreeng-ngeeye, thookay-ngeeye, pareeyt pareeyt ba waran waran-ngeeye,
wangeeyarr ba wangeet – ngeeye, maar ba thanampool-ngeeye, Ngalam Meen-ngeeye, mooroop-ngeeye
Meerreeng-ngeeye Maar, Maar meerreeng
Wamba-wanoong yaapteeyt-oo, leerpeeneeyt-ngeeye, kooweekoowee-ngeeye nhakapooreepooree-ngeeye, keeyan-ngeeye Wamba-wanoong nhoonpee yaapteeyt-oo, tyama-takoort meerreeng  
Peetyawan weeyn Meerreeng, nhaka Meerreeng, keeyan Meerreeng, nganto-pay ngootyoonayt meerreeng
Kooweeya-wanoong takoort meerreeng-ee ba watanoo Meerreng-ngeeye, yana-thalap-ee ba wanga-kee Meerreeng laka
Ngeetoong keeyan-ngeen Meerreeng, Meerreeng keeyan ngooteen

Together body and Country, we know long time. 
(We see all of you), greeting.
Mother my Country.
Father my Country.
Sister my Country.
Brother my Country.
We are the Maar speaking Peoples. Hear us.
Our Country is water, air, fire, trees, life.
Our Country is thought, language, heart, soul, blood.
Our Country is our Children, our youth, our Elders, our men and women, our Ancestors, our spirit.
Our Country is Maar, Maar is Country.
We bring to the light our songs, our stories, our vision, our love.
We bring these things to the light so All can know Country.
To care for Country. To think about Country. To love Country. To protect Country.
We invite all that choose to live on or visit our Country to slow down. To tread softly and listen to Country speak. 
If you love Country, Country will love you.

Artwork: Warran Pookarr by Lee-Anne Clarke

Introduction

The Eastern Maar are Traditional Owners of south-western Victoria. Our land extends as far north as Ararat and encompasses the Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Great Ocean Road areas. It also stretches 100m out to sea from low tide.

Eastern Maar is a name adopted by the people who identify as Maar, Eastern Gunditjmara, Tjap Wurrung, Peek Whurrong, Kirrae Whurrung, Kuurn Kopan Noot and/or Yarro waetch (Tooram Tribe) amongst others, who are Aboriginal people and are:

  • Descendants, including by adoption, of the identified ancestors
  • Who are members of families who have an association with the former Framlingham Aboriginal Mission Station
  • Who are recognised by other members of the Eastern Maar People as members of the group.

Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC) is the professional organisation that represents the Eastern Maar People of south-west Victoria and manages their Native Title rights and interests. EMAC has a board of directors of Traditional Owners and is a registered organisation under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006, and a Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic).

The Glenelg Hopkins region encompasses the north and western regions of the Eastern Maar RAP area. Towns within this area include Terang, Mortlake, Warrnmabool, Port Fairy, Dunkeld, Lake Bolac and Ararat. Some of the significant places for Eastern Maar within the Glenelg Hopkins region include the Hopkins and Merri Rivers, Lake Bolac and Framlingham Forest. 

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