GARAAN-NGADDIM (HORIZONTAL FALLS) ON DAMBEEMANGADEE COUNTRY TO BECOME QUIET

The narrow gap at Gaaran-Ngaadim, known as Horizontal Falls, on Dambeemangadee country, is one step closer to becoming quiet country.

The state government has committed five million dollars to support Dambimangari-led tourism, including new cultural experiences in the Kimberley’s Talbot Bay.

Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation chairperson Gary Umbagai told Ngaarda Media that tourism at Gaaran-Ngaardim is all about thrill-seeking in a culturally significant place. ‘But in our way it’s never been that sort of thing, it’s a quiet place” said Mr Umbagai.

He said as boats rushed through the waterway, his people were feeling for the country. “The Country owns us, we don’t own the Country. We listen to the Country, and we’ve always been saddened by what is happening there without us having any rights or any say against this”.

Safety concerns and calls over many years from the Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation to protect the site's cultural significance led to the transition.  

“To us, it’s a quiet place, it’s a quiet area. And obviously having tourists around here for a long time, sort of had an impact on our old people. So the fight has always been there to at least have a say into what we think should be happening in that place” said Mr Umbagai.

The funding announcement earlier this month was bittersweet for Mr Umbagai and Dambingarri people.

“Our Elders are not here any more and they were the ones that handed the fight down. I’ve sat down with old people all my life and we’ve been struggling and today I was sort of sad … I feel for them, they’ve been fighting and they didn’t get to see this opportunity”. He says his old people have been fighting since the 1960s.

Boat tours through the narrow gaps of Garaan-ngaddim, known as Horizontal Falls, will be completely phased out by 2028, with most operations to cease by the end of 2026.  

The design of Dambimangari’s new tourism activities will ensure that visitors can still experience the area in a way that respects the culture and keeps people safe.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work in the background as to what it would look like and just trying to get some messages across about our inspiractions ” said Gary Umbagai.

To hear the full audio, please click the link below: