At the Breaksea-produced Kaya 26 film screening in the Albany Town Hall, the question was posed: How can we carry the lessons we have learnt and the knowledge we have acquired into the future?

We have some suggestions.

First, keep telling the stories heard in 2026.

Embrace dual naming.

Remind yourself to say Kinjarling or Kincinnup side-by-side with Albany, for example.

A Corntdirrup with Clarence, Irreup with Adelaide, Kardarup with Melville.

Also, continue lobbying for decisions that can have lasting impacts, like preserving and caring for boodja, country.

A prime example would be to preserve the Yakamia Forest, the closest remnant bush land to our city centre.

Why not put Yakamia where it belongs, in the same sacred category as St John The Evangelist Church on York Street, which is heritage listed and, in 1848, became the first consecrated church in WA.

The church is connected to over 2000 years of human history.

For the Menang Noongar, Yakamia Forest was a church, a hospital, food source and part of their home for 60,000 years.

Not to forget it was also a Menang birthing place because of the kwell (sheok) and is still home to jarrah, koomal (possum), koorlbardi (magpie), karrak (cockatoo) and many other Indigenous species.

Kaya 26 has reminded us of our shared history and the importance of heritage, history, truth-telling and preservation.

Let us not forget.

Lester Coyne and Jon Doust

Albany

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