November 2012

2013 Mullewa Community Trust Grants Program

Posted: November 30th, 2012

Filed under: City of Greater Geraldton, Mount Gibson Mining Ltd., Mullewa, Mullewa Community Trust Grants Program

Applications are now open for the 2013 Mullewa Community Trust Grants program.

Each year, the Mullewa district receives funding from Mount Gibson Mining Ltd which assists community development initiatives.

In conjunction with the City of Greater Geraldton, the program allocates funds to groups who can demonstrate how their activites would benefit the community.

To be eligible, projects proposed by community groups should be in the areas of youth leadership development, arts and cultural activities, sports and recreation, community welfare or tourism.

Community groups are also encouraged to submit joint grant applications.

Application forms can be obtained from the Mullewa district office, or downloaded from the City of Greater Geraldton website.

Applications close 28 December 2012.

Information session for Indigenous suppliers

Posted: November 26th, 2012

Filed under: Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council (AIMSC), Broome, Indigenous business, Perth, Port Hedland

The Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council (AIMSC) is a business-to-business membership body dedicated to growing diversity within the supply chain. AIMSC’s goal is to connect Australian corporate and government organisations with Indigenous business suppliers and ensure that small to medium Indigenous businesses have the opportunity to be integrated into the supply chains of Australian companies and Government agencies.

To promote its new office and physical presence in WA, AIMSC has organised a roadshow up the West Coast, visiting Perth, Port Hedland and Broome.

The Road Show will cover:
• Real Opportunities in WA forum
• Express Certification for Indigenous businesses who are Sole Traders/Sole Shareholders-Directors
• An overview and information session on the up coming changes to the Indigenous Opportunities Policy (IOP)

For more information visit www.aimsc.org.au/events

Badimaya Book Launch

Posted: November 21st, 2012

Filed under: Badimia, Bundiyarra, Irra-Wangga Geraldton Language Program, Joe Benjamin, Mt Magnet

This will be a great event in Mount Magnet by the Bundiyarra Irra Wangga Language Program celebrating the books of Joe Benjamin, Badimia culture and language.

Native title agreement recognises the importance of water

Posted: November 20th, 2012

Filed under: agreement, Cyril Lockyer, Iron Ore Holdings, Kuruma Marthudunera, Pilbara, Simon Hawkins

Kurama and Marthudunera Traditional Owners Bernadette Evans, Roy Evans, Joan Evans and Cyril Lockyer with YMAC staff and IOH representatives

The Kurama and Marthudunera (K&M) native title group today announced the signing of an agreement with Iron Ore Holdings Ltd (IOH) over their Buckland Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

It is the Pilbara’s first native title agreement to provide payments in respect of the use of water and clearance of native vegetation, giving an incentive for IOH to minimise their impact on the environment. IOH also showed flexibility in planning their mine footprint in order to avoid any impact on culturally sensitive sites near the area.

In addition to strong cultural and environmental protection, the agreement provides milestone and production payments, which are now standard features of native title land access agreements.

Kurama and Marthudunera Traditional Owner, Cyril Lockyer said, “The important thing now is to continue our good working relationship. This area is of great significance to the families involved and we want to work closely with Iron Ore Holdings to see these sensitive places protected.”

“This unique agreement is due to the genuine good-will and flexibility shown by both parties, and recognises the cultural and environmental significance of the area for the Traditional Owners. It goes well beyond the requirements of the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act by recognising that water and habitat are inextricably linked to cultural values,” said Simon Hawkins, CEO of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation.

Congratulations to all players in this year’s Wadjemup Cup!

Posted: November 15th, 2012

Filed under: AFL, Carnarvon, clontarf, Karratha, Mid West, Roebourne, Wadjemup Cup

On Saturday 10th November, students from Clontarf Football Academies from across the State competed in a round robin AFL football competition held on the Sports Oval Rottnest Island. The students were selected to participate in the Wadjemup Cup based on their school attendance, commitment to their studies and upholding the values and behaviours of their respective academies.

• Superstars (Northam, Yule Brook and Coodanup),
• Titans (Carnarvon & Midwest),
• Allies (Katanning, South West & Great Southern),
• Stingrays (Roebourne, Karratha & South East)
• Swans (Clontarf, Goldfiekds and Gilmore)  

For more information on this and Clontarf’s many other programs, visit www.clontarf.org.au

YMAC News issue 19 is here!

Posted: November 14th, 2012

Filed under: BHP Billiton, Bundiyarra, Charmaine Green, Geraldton, Heritage, Irra-Wangga Geraldton Language Program, James Anaya, Mulga Mail, Njamal, Nyiyaparli, ORIC, United Nations, Yamaji Art, Yamaji News, YMAC News

The latest issue of YMAC News is now available for download from our website.

It includes a cover story on the visit the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples made to Njamal country, a special feature on Geraldton Aboriginal community organisations, and a landmark agreement between the Nyiyaparli people and BHP Billiton.

There is also a profile of Yamatji artist, poet and academic Charmaine Green, as well as a staff profile of Fiona Mackenzie, our Geraldton office manager. There is important information on YMAC’s heritage services, information about YMAC’s recent audit by the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC), and of course lots of photos of people and country.

Click here to download YMAC News from our website.

If you have any stories or photos you’d like to share with us, elders who you think we should profile, questions about native title, or any other letters to the editor, send them to editor@ymac.org.au.

We hope you enjoy this issue of YMAC News.

Protection for Lake Moore in Midwest WA

Posted: November 9th, 2012

Filed under: Badimia, Heritage, Lake Moore, National Native Title Tribunal, Yamatji.

Legal win for the Ngarla people

Posted: November 8th, 2012

Filed under: ABC, BHP Billiton, Mt. Goldsworthy, Ngarla, Pilbara

YMAC is very pleased by a Federal Court decision earlier this week stating that the BHP Mt. Goldsworthy mining leases do not permanently extinguish the Ngarla people’s native title.

Click to read more about the decision on ABC News.

Landmark Native Title Victory, Ngarla-Mount Goldsworthy Decision, Radio Australia, November 2012

Posted: November 6th, 2012

YMAC is very pleased by a Federal Court decision earlier this week stating that the BHP Mt. Goldsworthy mining leases do not permanently extinguish the Ngarla people’s native title.

Click the link below to listen to an interview with YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins about the decision on ABC Radio Australia.

Landmark Native Title Victory, Ngarla-Mount Goldsworthy Decision, Radio Australia, November 2012

(Opens in ABC website)

Click to read more about the decision on ABC News.