Moort (Family)

Explore kinship, totems, roles and stories passed through generations.

Moort is more than family – it is the system that connects people across generations, guides identity, and shapes how care and knowledge are shared.

This section shares how Nyungar family systems work, the importance of matrilineal descent, and the deep cultural responsibilities held within kinship.

The Waarkal gave us the foundation of our knowledge about kinship systems – guiding how we relate to one another, who we may marry, and what our obligations are within community.

Nyungar culture is matrilineal. This means that we identify culturally through our mother’s (gnarnk) line, not our father’s (maam). Children (kurrlonggur) born to Nyungar women (yok) carry their mother’s bloodline. In a large moort (family group), children may have different mothers and fathers — they might not know their maam, but they usually know their gnarnk.

According to Tom Bennell, Keeper of the Stories:

“Nyungar they used to call their yok when carrying doordajee doordajee. Now that means she is going to have a baby. Kooboorl, kooboorl, koombar kumbariny. That means the belly is getting big.”
 

Painting - Marra by Marilyn 'Bindaarn' Garlett

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City of Cockburn
Whadjuk Boodjar
9 Coleville Crescent,
Spearwood 6163

PO Box 1215, Bibra Lake DC,
Western Australia, 6965

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8.30am to 4.30pm
Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

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Cockburn Nyungar moort Beeliar boodja-k kaadadjiny. Koora, yeyi, benang baalap nidja boodja-k kaaradjiny.
Ngalak kaditj boodjar kep wer kaadidjiny kalyakool yoodaniny, wer koora wer yeyi ngalak Birdiya koota-djinanginy.

The City of Cockburn acknowledges the Nyungar people of Beeliar Boodjar. Long ago, now and in the future they care for Country.
We acknowledge a continuing connection to Land, Waters and Culture and pay our respects to Elders, past and present.