Country, Culture, People, Future

January 2011

ACCO wins Premier’s Active Citizenship Community Group Award

Posted: January 28th, 2011

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YMAC’s Business Development Coordinator, Cris Olegario &
YMAC’s Pilbara Regional Manager, Peter Jeffries.

On Australia Day the ‘Aboriginal Communities Charitable Organisation’ (ACCO) was presented with the Premier’s Active Citizenship Community Group Award for their contribution to the Pilbara community.

The ACCO is an excellent example of a regional organisation making a difference to the lives of Aboriginal people and is run by a volunteer staff base, most of whom are Indigenous.

As well as receiving public recognition from the Premier, the ACCO have also been approved for a Lotterywest grant for large commercial refrigerators for their food distribution outlet at TAFE’s Pundulmurra campus in South Hedland. The grant also includes a custom fitted ‘Commercial Kitchen Caravan’ to fully equip ACCO in their pursuit to deliver services to regional and remote communities in the Pilbara.

The Aboriginal Communities Charitable Organisation (ACCO) was formed in late 2008 as a non-profit charitable organisation to help ‘close the gap’ in local Indigenous communities. The idea came about from a common desire to make a difference to the lives of Aboriginal families living in Pilbara’s mining economy, where food and housing prices can be artificially high.

With the support and partnership of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Newcrest Mining and Foodbank the ACCO’s first primary project was the South Hedland Food Distribution Centre. The ACCO’s work aims to: 

  • Create a sustainable food supply for families;
  • Teach the community to grow food;
  • Provide nutrition education; and
  • Facilitate training and job placement.

To learn more about the ACCO and their work please contact, Cris Olegario, YMAC’s Community and Business Development Coordinator on (08) 9172 5433.

Apply Now For Pilbara Development Commission Grant

Posted: January 24th, 2011

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Does your community group have a project in mind that requires funding assistance? The final round of the Pilbara Development Commission’s Small Grants Scheme is now open for applications up to $10,000.

As part of Royalties For Regions, the scheme is designed to assist small community groups in the Pilbara with funding for projects up to $10,000.

Applications must be submitted by 4:30 pm, 28 February 2011. For more information, visit www.pdc.wa.gov.au/royalties-for-regions.aspx

If your community group is successful in securing a grant, tell us about it! YMAC loves to hear about our members doing great things for their communities. Email srosenfeld@ymac.org.au to let us know how your community organisation is creating positive change for the Traditional Owners of the Pilbara and Midwest.

Midwest Traditional Owners look forward to agreement outcomes

Posted: January 12th, 2011

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The Yugunga-Nya native title group have announced a claim wide land access agreement over their traditional country with mining company, Sandfire Resources.

Yugunga-Nya country covers approximately 30,335 square kilometres of land in the Midwest region of Western Australia, and includes the mining towns of Meekatharra and Cue.

The land access agreement covers Sandfire Resources DeGrussa copper-gold project, situated 150km north of Meekatharra. The agreement provides a range of financial and non-financial benefits to the Yugunga-Nya community. These include employment and contracting opportunities, as well as cultural awareness training for Sandfire employees. The agreement also includes a position for a Yugunga-Nya member to be employed as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer, further developing the good working relationship established between the community and Sandfire.

Ron Shay is a well respected Yugunga-Nya community member and is looking forward to the new opportunities the land access agreement will bring to his people.

“We already have four Yugunga-Nya people working with Sandfire, but through this agreement we hope to see many more benefits flow through to our community, including future employment and training,” he said.

Peter Jeffries, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC), said, “I would like to congratulate the Yugunga-Nya people on the successful completion of their negotiations with Sandfire Resources and look forward to the opportunities that this agreement will bring to the community.

It’s a great start to the year for Yugunga-Nya and we look forward to many more positive stories for Traditional Owners of the Midwest region in 2011.”

Meet a YMAC Director

Posted: January 10th, 2011

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Director, Darren Injie

Darren is a Innawonga man from the central Pilbara and Hamersley Ranges region.

Darren has been involved in Aboriginal advocacy since childhood, attending his first land rights protests while in highschool. In addition to his work for YMAC and the Innawonga native title group, Darren is involved in the Gumula Corporation and is a Director of Ngarda Foundation.

Darren works to ensure Traditional Owners benefit from wealth generated through mining on traditional country in the Pilbara. His vision is to see his people gain economic prosperity through participation in the mainstream economy.

Country is our mother, the provider and keeper of cultural belongings. Country and Culture go together. You can’t have one without the other.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians throughout Western Australia, and on whose Country we work. We acknowledge and respect their deep connection to their lands and waterways.

We honour and pay respect to Elders, and to their ancestors who survived and cared for Country.

Our offices are located on Whadjuk Country, Southern Yamatji Country, Yinggarda Country, Kariyarra Country, and Yawuru Country. We recognise the continuing culture, traditions, stories and living cultures on these lands and commit to building a brighter future together.

Disclaimer: Caution: Please be advised that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased people.

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