Perth lord mayor Basil Zempilas joins in the celebrations with Shannon Kearing Senior after the signing of the Yacker Danjoo Nglada Bidi. Photo by Jarrad Seng.

THE ‘Yacker Danjoo Nglada Bidi’ agreement between the City of Perth and Aboriginal elders has been signed.

The Noongar title means ‘working together our way’ and acknowledges the Whadjuk Nyoongar as the traditional owners of Perth city’s land and promises to make the city more welcoming and culturally safer for Indigenous people. 

The agreement was first raised by the council’s Reconciliation Action Plan in 2018 and was intended to mark a new beginning after some troubled relations in the past, including the city’s blunt response to Matagarup/Heirisson Island protesters in 2016.

The agreement was signed October 5 by city officials and members from the council’s Elders Advisory Panel, and commits the city to listen to Indigenous voices, commit to partnership, and acknowledge past injustices.