In 2015, an Indigenous-led protest against state government plans to shut down a number of remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia spawned a tent embassy and "refugee camp" on an island in Perth's Swan River.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains images and names of people who have died.
After weeks of tension, police and council rangers moved in to forcibly shut down the Heirisson Island (Matagarup) camp and remove the protesters from the island.
But in the wake of the closure, the City of Perth Council realised it needed to apologise and embark on a process of reconciliation to make Noongar people feel safe and welcome in the city.
So it hosted a series of meetings.
The meetings have led to an unexpected legacy project documenting the stories of the Noongar people's fight for recognition.
A short film, podcast and book have been published that tells the journey of the Noongar through first-hand stories.
Community Arts Network partnerships and platforming manager Michelle White was invited along to those early Council-endorsed meetings.
The meetings included 10 elders who had devoted decades to the wellbeing of Noongar people, including Margaret Culbong, who was instrumental in setting up Aboriginal community-controlled health centres and Noel Nannup, the first Aboriginal park ranger in Australia.
Many were members of the stolen generation and grew up in an era when Aboriginal people were not allowed in the Perth CBD without a permit, and not at all after 6pm.
"And I asked 'Is anyone actually like, marking all of this down for posterity?"
She said no-one was.
"So I went back to Community Arts Network and said 'so we've got to do a legacy project about this'," she said.
Capturing elder history
She spoke to the 10 elders involved and asked if they would be interested in being part of either a book, podcast or film to document their stories.
"And they all just said, 'oh no, we'd like all of them'," she said.
"So then I had to go away and get the funding for it and then pull together the team, and then COVID hit.
She said it had been a real journey to get the project ready for launch.
But the biggest pressure she felt was to get the project right and do their stories justice.
"And if their stories get heard, and people learn, and build empathy from that, that is what reconciliation is all about."
She said the elders were doing the heavy lifting by sharing the stories.
"All the other side of the community needs to do is to sit down and listen," she said.
The film Nguluk Waangkiny — Us Talking documents the journey of the City of Perth's Reconciliation Elders to create a reconciliation action plan.
It will air at Perth's Revelation Film Festival and on ABC iView.
The book features a series of photographs and vignettes from each of the elders.
It is not for sale, but is for the elders to keep and distribute in the community.
The podcast Ni! (meaning listen) is hosted by Noongar performer Phil Walleystack and will be uploaded to the ABC Listen app as well as feature on Awaye! on Radio National.
Story 'had to be told'
Whadjuk Noongar elder Farley Garlett, who at 72 is the youngest elder of the group, talked in the podcast about his experiences as a commissioner with the now dissolved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.
He also spoke about having his entire life monitored by the Native Welfare department as a child.
"It was a story that had to be told," he said.
"It was difficult, but it had to be told."
He said it was an opportunity to share not just his own story, but the things he learned from his own elders.
"We used to sit around a campfire and have these conversations with my grandfather and my grandmother and my great grandmother," he said.
He said his elders never had an opportunity to do it so it was paramount that he and other elders did.
"This is about reconciliation at its best," he said
"It has to be heard by everyone."
Hope for next generation
Mr Garlett said he was deeply optimistic about the younger generations and the change they would make.
"That's one thing about the Noongar spirit, and the Noongar understanding of country — we never lose hope," he said.
"Young kids, as they get older, they'll hear the stories and understand exactly what we talked about a long time ago and this is what it's about and where we've come from."
He said he had faith that young kids coming out of university and schools would have a better experience.
Recording stories to keep forever
Elders Aunty Theresa Walley and Aunty Doolan Leisha Eatts, who died before the project was complete, were adamant they wanted their stories included and heard. Their names and images are used with permission.
"What a gift they've left us in having those stories recorded, so they can be shared and they can go on," Ms White said.
"The reason why I was so passionate and determined to do this project is that I have a background in broadcasting and interviewing and my mother passed away 10 years ago."
She said she did not get to record her mother's story, which was similar to a lot of what the elders had shared of Stolen Generations, incarceration and living on the outskirts.
"What I couldn't do for her, I've now done for these elders," she said.
