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.”