Wattandee Tribal Owners have a cultural obligation to protect, preserve and promote Wattandee country and culture for future generations.
Wattandee Littlewell Aboriginal Corporation was formed in December 2020 to replace the Littlewell Working Group which had been operating since 2010.
The Littlewell Working Group was made up by a group of Wattandee people and Elders who had lived and had cultural ties to the community of about 150 people at the former Littlewell Aboriginal Reserve (1898–1972), in Mingenew, Western Australia.
WLAC is run by a board of Wattandee Directors whose key goals are:
To use the 10-hectare Littlewell Aboriginal Reserve site as a place for spiritual and emotional healing to celebrate the heritage and culture of Wattandee people.
Develop Wattandee Rangers to provide conservation, ecosystem and cultural site management.
Develop a Wattandee language revival program.
Develop Wattandee cultural education programs for the youth and community.
To find out more please contact us.
September 2023
WLAC deliver cultural awareness training to key partners Triangle Energy, Pilot Energy, Eureka 3D MSS, Shire of Mingenew and the Shire of Irwin
Positive conversations came from this training session.
September 2023
WLAC hosted its 2nd Elders Connect Day, we engaged into some positive conversations and feedback from the community and thanks to our partners, supporters and sponsors for your kind help and donations.
June 2023
WLAC Directors and Doyen Radcliffe from Community First Development attended and presented at the World Community Development Conference in Darwin putting Wattandee heritage and culture on a world stage.
May 2023
Northern Agricultural Catchment Councils Aboriginal Custodianship team held a Midwest Aboriginal Ranger Program Regional Meeting.
WLAC invited our guest to get an insight into Wattandee culture our visions for caring for country.
This meeting began conversations towards an important conservation and ecosystem management partnership.
September 2022
WLAC hosted its first Elders Connect Day where families shared their stories of country and culture, and life back when our Elders were younger.
Thanks to our supporters and sponsors for your kind help and support.
September 2022
WLAC Directors registered Littlewell Aboriginal Reserve with Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage representative Kym Suckling
2021
A small Lotterywest grant was awarded to WLAC to build 12 large pergolas at Littlewell Aboriginal Reserve for community members and visitor to sit down.
Construction of the pergolas were completed in January 2022
December 2020
The Littlewell Working Group became incorporated and are now known as Wattandee Littlewell Aboriginal Corporation.
2019
Littlewell Reserve was reopened for the community as a place for:
Spiritual and emotional healing to celebrate the heritage and culture of Wattandee people.
Develop Wattandee Rangers to provide conservation, ecosystem and cultural site management.
Develop a Wattandee language revival program.
Develop Wattandee cultural education programs for the youth and community.
July 2019
Littlewell Working Group wins caring for country award at the National NAIDOC Awards held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra 2019.
https://www.naidoc.org.au/awards/winner-profiles/littlewell-working-group
2018
Littlewell Working Group members Reg Brockman, Michael Edwards, Thomas Cameron, Annette Bynder and Lorraine Cameron were interviewed by Samille Mitchell from ABC Midwest.
The Families spoke about life at Littlewell, life on country, and the impacts of being a part of the stolen generations
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-28/littlewell-mingenew-aboriginal-reserve/10510600
October 2018
Littlewell Working Group was rewarded for our fantastic work by winning the Woolworths Community Group of the Year Award at the Western Australian Regional Achievement and Community Awards in Perth WA
https://thewest.com.au/news/mid-west/littlewell-wins-big-ng-b88996589z
2017
Littlewell Working Group with there partners established a Littlewell Heritage Trail
February 2017
On the 18th of February, Trish Park from the Irwin Historical Society conducted interviews with Reg Brockman, Thomas Cameron and Michael Alone in the Irwin Recreation Centre as part of the Dongara Oral history project.
February 2017
Doyen Radcliffe from Community First Development and the Shire of Mingenew assisted the Littlewell Working Group to preserve the stories of the elders community members of Littlewell Aboriginal Reserve
2010
A group of 30 Wattandee Elders and community members started the Littlewell Working Group and the Heritage Trail and Oral History Project.
1972
By 1969 all states had repealed the legislation allowing for the removal of Aboriginal children under the policy of “protection”
In years to come The Littlewell Aboriginal Reserve was closed and handed over to the Shire of Mingenew for light industrial use.
1950
Houses and ablution blocks were constructed on the 10-acre site for the families of Littlewell Aboriginal Reserve
1938
The state government established Littlewell Aboriginal Reserve where Wattandee and other First Nations families were forcefully displaced from there original lands and placed into the reserve to “protect” First Nations people in a very patronizing, paternalistic sense
1938
The first Commonwealth / State conference on “native welfare” adopts assimilation as the national policy
https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/catalogue_resources/20663.pdf
1905
The Aboriginies Act (WA) is passed. Under the act, the Chief Protector is made the legal guardian of every Aboriginal and ‘half-caste’ child under 16 years old.
https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/catalogue_resources/52790.pdf