THE extraordinary story of a Melville First Nations group giving life to their “endangered” Noongar language premiered at Luna Leederville this week. 

Filmed by Noongar filmmaker Hugh Sando, Boodjara follows multimedia arts project Place Names Melville, which saw a Noongar-led effort to restore and revive the use of traditional names in places of cultural significance around the City of Melville. 

Led by Noongar elders, Place Names Melville worked to decode “ancient meanings embedded” in names around Melville, which culminated in a cultural mapping process as well as art in response to natural materials found on Country, and is diligently documented in Boodjara. 

Boodjara, which means ‘Country’ and ‘belonging to’, was filmed during the lead-up to the Voice to Parliament referendum, documenting the “divisive national debate” and “overwhelming rejection” of First Nations’ place in the Australian constitution in 2023.  

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Place Names Melville contributing artist Charne Hayden says the impact of the project “will be felt for generations to come” following another painful chapter in First Nations’ history in the Voice referendum. 

“In 50 years’ time, 100 years’ time, our kids are going to be speaking these words, speaking these place names and taking it as fact,” Ms Hayden said. 

“What we [decided]… will impact people’s understanding of the future.” 

Filmmaker Hugh Sando, who mad his directorial debut in Boodjara, says the film “holds a special place” in his heart, offering an intricate telling of ancient culture in Perth’s southern suburbs. 

“More than anything, this film offers a platform for our Elders and knowledge holders to share their truth, language, and history,” Mr Sando said. 

“It showcases the importance of projects like this as meaningful and significant steps towards reconciliation.” 

The premiere was part of the 2025 Revelation International Film Festival.

by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER