Country, Culture, People, Future

August 2012

Native Title Stories: Diane Stewart

Posted: August 31st, 2012

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YMAC would like to welcome Diane Stewart as the latest member of our Board of Directors. Ms Stewart is a Nyangumarta woman from the East Pilbara who loves spending time on country. Watch her video below to hear her stories about country, family and culture.

Diane Stewart, YMAC Director.

This is the third in a series of interviews with our Committee and Board Members, in which they share their stories of country and culture. See previous interviews with Yamatji Directors Ben Roberts and Susan Oakley.

Diane Stewart

Posted: August 31st, 2012

Diane Stewart, YMAC Director, reflects on her experiences of native title.

YMAC Co-Chair speaks in the national media about the future of Njamal country

Posted: August 27th, 2012

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The Njamal people of the Pilbara region of WA welcomed a visit by United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya on their country last week. Professor Anaya visited the site of a joint venture between the Njamal people and Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), the North Star Project.

 

The Njamal People and FMG entered into an agreement in December 2011 that will protect significant cultural sites and lead to the creation of a joint venture to run a mining operation on an orebody adjacent to FMG’s proposed North Star mine.

During the visit, YMAC Co-Chair and Njamal elder Mrs. Doris Eaton spoke to Fairfax media about the joint venture and what it means for Njamal people and country.
Read the full story in the Sydney Morning Herald here.

Professor Anaya had the opportunity to meet with the Njamal people and representatives of FMG to learn more about this unique land access agreement. He also visited significant Njamal heritage sites, including rock art complexes, and spoke with the Njamal people about the effect that mining has had on their community.

 

“I’m grateful to the Njamal people for the opportunity to meet with them on their country, along with representatives of FMG, and learn about a unique and potentially beneficial arrangement with the mining industry”, Professor Anaya said.

Mrs Eaton said “This trip was a good opportunity to show Professor Anaya and the wider community what the Njamal People have achieved through our agreement with FMG. It is important that people see the beauty of our country first hand so that we can all work together to protect our culture, heritage and stories

Free business workshops in Geraldton and Carnarvon

Posted: August 23rd, 2012

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Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) is offering free Into Business workshops this week in Carnarvon and Geraldton to assist Aboriginal people to fully investigate and research their business ideas before taking the leap into business ownership.

The workshops are run in three parts, with part A: Your business idea, goals and expectations, running on:
  • Tuesday, 18 September at Fascine Lodge, 34 David Brand Drive, Carnarvon 
  • Wednesday, 19 September at Small Business Centre, 162 Marine Tce, Geraldton.
For more information and to register for the workshops, call 9229 1408 or 1800 107 107, or visit IBA’s website.
Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) is a commercially focused organisation that promotes and encourages self-management, self-sufficiency and economic independence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They aim to identify and pursue opportunities that enable Indigenous Australians to create wealth, accumulate assets and achieve their financial aspirations.

Applications Now Open to Attend National Indigenous Youth Leadership Conference

Posted: August 21st, 2012

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The National Indigenous Youth Leadership Academy (NIYLA) is holding its first national conference in Sydney later this year, and applications are now open for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged 15-18 years who would like to attend.

NILYA is a national network of Indigenous youth which promotes cultural empowerment, innovation and social change through community movements. The confence will provide those who attend with opportunities to network, build leadership skills, and play an active role in creating lasting change for Australian Indigenous communities.

The conference will be held at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Sydney, from 29 September to 4 October 2012. Click here to read the eligibility requirements and download the application form. Applications close 1 September 2012.

For more information, visit the NILYA website, or email April Long on April.long@niyla.org

Nyiyaparli people sign major iron ore mining agreement

Posted: August 20th, 2012

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The Nyiyaparli people of the Pilbara region of WA have announced that they have entered into a major mining agreement with BHP Billiton Iron Ore (BHPBIO). The agreement covers all of BHPBIO’s iron ore operations within the Nyiyaparli people’s native title claim and offers substantial heritage protection, financial benefits, and non-financial benefits to the Nyiyaparli people.

Click here to download the full media release from our website.

YMAC congratulates the Nyiyaparli people on the successful negotiations.

Midwest Aboriginal Groups Making a Difference in Their Region

Posted: August 17th, 2012

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The Midwest Aboriginal Organisation Alliance (MAOA) is a participatory action research group working towards greater community engagement in Indigenous issues. MAOA works collaboratively with community, industry and government partners to address key issues affecting the futures of midwest Aboriginal people.

YMAC would like to congratulate MAOA on being announced as a finalist in the 2012 Northern Agricultural Catchments Council Sustainability and Innovation awards.

See the MAOA’s promotional video below for an insight into the project’s community aspirations, achievements and partnerships.

New YMAC publication offers cultural advice

Posted: August 14th, 2012

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YMAC has today launched a Cultural Advice booklet for people working with Aboriginal people in the Midwest or Pilbara regions of WA. The booklet was produced with the advice and guidance of Traditional Owners, to give a short summary of cultural protocols people should be aware of. “Each of the native title claim groups we represents has their own unique culture, but this guide has been designed to give broad advice for meetings and on-country visits. Non-Indigenous people from the private sector or government often come to do business with Traditional Owners and ask for advice on protocols. This guide serves as a good starting point,” said YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins. Download a pdf version from YMAC’s website here, or email srosenfeld@ymac.org.au if you would like to receive a hard copy.

Congratulations to YMAC’s Nyaparu Rose – Landcare Award Finalist

Posted: August 9th, 2012

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The finalists for the 2012 National Landcare Awards have been announced, and all Australians can get involved by voting in the ‘People’s Choice’ category.

Landcare is a community based volunteer movement made up of individuals and groups who work on managing environmental issues in their local areas. The awards aim to showcase the breadth and diversity of the work undertaken by people across the country who volunteer their time to protect Australia’s land and coast.

YMAC would like to extend a special congratulations to Nyangumarta woman, Nyaparu Rose, who has been selected as a finalist. Ms Rose has worked tirelessly with Pilbara Traditional Owners to ensure their voice is heard in discussions about the management of coastal and marine environments in the region.

Ms Rose helped to establish the Pilbara Indigenous Marine Reference Group (PIMRG), which includes representatives from six Pilbara Traditional Owner groups. The PIMRG aims to consolidate traditional knowledge from the region so that Traditional Owners can more effectively conduct negotiations with government and industry on cultural and coastal protection.

If you would like to vote for Nyaparu Rose in the National Landcare Awards, click here and follow the prompts. Ms Rose is in category 7, under ‘WA – Yamatji Marlpa’.

Voting closes 4pm (EST) Tuesday 4th September, and winners will be announced that day at the Awards ceremony, held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

YMAC would like to congratulate all finalists who have been nominated for an award.

Click here for more information on Nyaparu Rose’s achievements, and here for a list of all the other 2012 Landcare Awards finalists.

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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