Before the arrival of Europeans, a huge swath of Australia around what is now Perth was the homeland of the Noongar people. With the onset of colonization, that land was lost and the Noongar culture (presumably) disappeared. Employing evidence from anthropology and Noongar oral history, this volume shows how much "accepted wisdom" about the disappearance of Noongar culture is without basis in fact. Originally prepared for the Noongar's federal court case asserting native title to the Perth region, this volume provides details of the Noongar people's history, customs, and laws; describes their relationship to and their rights and interests in their land; and chronicles their survival as a people into the present day. Distributed in North America by ISBS. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)