WESTERN AUSTRALIA, March 9, 2009: The legendary Noongar warrior Yagan will be laid to rest and honoured with a memorial park, about 175 years since his death at the hands of a bounty hunter and 12 years since his skull were returned to Australia.

WA Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) Director General Patrick Walker on the weekend announced that the state government would give $550,000 to build a memorial park in honour of Yagan. The City of Swan council in Perth will work with the Derbayl Yerrigen Committee (DYC) in burying Yagan's kaat (or head).

Yagan is seen as a local hero around Perth, and a symbol of early Aboriginal resistance around the nation after settlers moved into his traditional lands and formed the Swan Valley.

He was wanted for the death of two white men in 1833, who were killed after the death in custody of his brother. The event had followed the deterioration in relations between European settlers and the local Aboriginal community.

A reward of 30 pounds was put on Yagan's head by the Lieutenant-Governor General at the time and Yagan was subsequently killed by William Keates, who was after the bounty.

Yagan's kaat was cut from his body upon his death. It was then preserved by smoking and was subsequently sent to England where it was put on display.

After several years of lobbying by Noongar leaders, Yagan's kaat was finally found in 1993 and was exhumed. In 1997, a Noongar delegation travelled to London and were handed Yagan's kaat, amid further controversy due to an injunction against the handover.

Yagan's kaat is still unburied due to controversy over whether it should rest with the remainder of Yagan's remains.

But Mr Walker said the memorial park would be an important act of reconciliation.

"The creation of the Yagan Memorial Park is a dignified end to a chapter of history that caused much pain to the Noongar people," Mr Walker said.

"The Memorial Park represents a very real and authentic act of Reconciliation between Western Australia's Indigenous and non-Indigenous people."

"I particularly congratulate Richard Wilkes and all the members of the DYC for their perseverance and commitment to make this happen and thank the City of Swan for their willingness to partner with us and deliver a significant boost to Reconciliation in Western Australia."

DYC chair Richard Walkes said that he was pleased to finally see a proper burial, and that the state government had acknowledged the importance of it.

"Yagan was a leader, a warrior and a man of his people. He is honoured as a hero not only by the Noongar people but people from all of the Indigenous nations in Western Australia," Mr Wilkes said.