February 2013 Archives

Feb27 2013

New Website for Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation

Posted: February 27th, 2013

Filed under: Bundiyarra, Bundiyarra Wanggajimanha, Irra Wangga Language Centre, Yamatji.

Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation is now online!

Offering latest news, history and links to the programs run by the corporation, Bundiyarra’s website provides a wealth of information to both members and the general public about services it provides to the community.

Bundiyarra has also launched a monthly newsletter, Bundiyarra Wanggajimanha, which can be downloaded from the website.

For more information, visit www.bundiyarra.com.au.

Click here to download the January 2013 edition of Bundiyarra Wanggajimanha.

Feb25 2013

Gascoyne Community Grants

Posted: February 25th, 2013

Filed under: community grants, Gascoyne Community Foundation, Gascoyne Development Commission

Grants of up to $10,000 are available to eligible not-for-profit organisations to improve the health, well-being and quality of life in Gascoyne communities.

The Gascoyne Community Foundation (GCF) is a local, independent, not for profit trust fund set up to help the region’s communities build and attract funds for the future. Applications for this one-off grant scheme are being accepted until 22 March 2013.

For information on this and other Gascoyne grant schemes visit the Gascoyne Development Commission or email jill.dwyer@gdc.wa.gov.au

Feb20 2013

Download YMAC News issue 20

Posted: February 20th, 2013

Filed under: Alternative Settlement, AusAID, Australia-Africa Partnerships Facility, Badimia, Beverley Ladyman, Iron Ore Holdings, Kuruma Marthudunera, Lake Moore, Montezuma, Ngarlawangga, NNTT, Nyiyaparli, YMAC News

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

It is full of stories about some of the accomplishments in our regions over the last few months. Agreements have been made between the Ngarlawangga people and Montezuma Mining Company Ltd, and the Kurama and Marthudunera people and Iron Ore Holdings Ltd, that are both notable for different reasons.

You can read about the Geraldton native title groups coming together to work towards an Alternative Settlement, and a meeting between Pilbara indigenous women and African women in mining.

We have several new members of our Yamatji Regional Committee and the Board of Directors, and we profile one of them, Beverley Ladyman.

The Badimia people won a battle in the National Native Title Tribunal to help protect one of their most sacred sites, and the Nyiyaparli people have discovered a site that was occupied 41,000 year ago while out on a heritage survey for a mining company.

We also answer one of our most frequently asked question, ‘Why does native title take so long?’

Click here to dowload YMAC News issue 20.

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.

Feb19 2013

Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program- Apply now

Posted: February 19th, 2013

Filed under: Challenger Institute, Department of Communities, Indigenous Leadership Program, One Sky Many Paths, youth leadership

‘One Sky, Many Paths’ is an Aboriginal youth leadership program that runs from April to July this year. The program includes:
•two one-week residential conferences in Fremantle
•on-line learning, with support from a local mentor
•a community project that the participants themselves will plan and run over a 14-week period.

During the course the participants get to meet and be inspired by pre-eminent Aboriginal leaders. On completion they receive a certificate II in Leadership Development.

The program is run by the Challenger Institute and funded by the WA Department for Communities. For more information go to http://www.communities.wa.gov.au/Youth/programs/osmp/Pages/default.aspx. Applications close on 22 March 2013.

Feb15 2013

Applications Open for Community Landcare Grants

Posted: February 15th, 2013

Filed under: caring for country, Community Landcare Grants, environmental protection, natural resource management.

Applications for the Community Landcare Grants are now open, with grants from $5,000 to $50,000 available to help local community groups take on-ground action in natural resource management.

Local community and farming groups involved in sustainable production are encouraged to apply. Eligible projects may include soil conditioning, erosion reduction, weed and pest control as well as other activities that reduce the impact of aquaculture and commercial fishing on the environment.

The grants form part of the Australian government’s ‘Caring for Country’ initiative which aims to promote the sustainable management of the country’s natural resources by supporting communities, farmers and other local groups protect Australia’s natural environment.

For more information including eligibility and application requirements, visit the Caring for Country website.

Applications close 20 March 2013.

Feb12 2013

YMAC’s Regional Director in Pilbara Exhibition

Posted: February 12th, 2013

Filed under: FORM., Peter Jeffries, Pilbara, Pilbara Stories, The Pilbrara Project

Are you interested in finding out more about life and culture in the Pilbara region of Western Australia?

Perth’s FORM gallery is currently hosting Pilbara Stories, a photographic exhibition capturing the diversity and individuality of everyday Pilbara life.

The exhibition features YMAC’s own Pilbara Regional Manager, Peter Jeffries, and is open now at the FORM gallery in Perth until 20 April 2013, and the Courthouse Gallery in Port Hedland from 15 February to 11 April 2013.

Pilbara Stories is part of FORM’s ongoing ‘Pilbara Project’, which aims to encourage local people from the region to celebrate their own unique identity.

For more information, visit the Pilbara Stories website.

Feb11 2013

Next step toward Constitutional Recognition

Posted: February 11th, 2013

Filed under: ANTaR, Constitutional recognition, You Me Unity

A significant step along the road to Constitutional Recognition is fast approaching. The Bill of Recognition introduced to Federal Parliament in November is expected to be voted on this Wednesday 13 February.

ANTaR is asking for your support to call on Federal Politicians to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution and protect all Australians from racial discrimination.

Click here to add your support to the call for change.

To learn more about constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, visit http://www.youmeunity.org.au/ or http://antar.org.au/

Feb5 2013

Yinhawangka People Sign Native Title Agreement with Rio Tinto

Posted: February 5th, 2013

Filed under: Darren Injie, Paraburdoo, Pilbara, Rio Tinto, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Yinhawangka

Yinhawangka Country

The Yinhawangka People of the Pilbara region of Western Australia have announced a major agreement with Rio Tinto.

The Yinhawangka People are the native title claimants and traditional custodians of approximately one million hectares of land and waters in the central Pilbara, including the mining town of Paraburdoo. The agreement covers Rio Tinto’s existing, current and future iron ore mining operations within Yinhawangka country and, importantly, establishes protocols for the protection of homeland communities and areas of special significance. This includes the exclusion of an area of outstanding cultural significance to the Yinhawangka People.

It provides a range of economic and non-economic benefits for the Yinhawangka People, including significant financial benefits from mining on their traditional country; special treatment of areas of high cultural significance; employment and training opportunities; support for Pilbara Aboriginal business development and contracting; and a collaborative approach to environmental and cultural heritage management.

Yinhawangka Traditional Owner, Darren Injie, said it had taken over twenty years of hard work for the Yinhawangka People to establish their homeland communities and reach today’s milestone.

“I want to acknowledge a lot of important people whose leadership contributed to this agreement, and who are no longer with us today. This wasn’t the work of one or two people, it’s been a community effort. I also thank Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation; we would not have an agreement with this kind of scope and integrity without their ongoing support.”

Click here to read the full media release.

Feb1 2013

New Children’s Book from West Australian Indigenous Artist

Posted: February 1st, 2013

Filed under: Indigenous Arts, Indigenous Books, Indigenous Culture, Magabala Books, Norma MacDonald Spinifex Mouse, Nyungar, Yamatji.

West Australian artist Norma MacDonald will release her new illustrated children’s book next month through Indigenous publishing house, Magabala Books.

Spinifex Mouse is the tale of a cheeky, spinifex-hopping mouse who lives in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Written and Illustrated by Ms MacDonald, the book will be available from February 2013 in bookshops across Australia and online from Magabala Books, www.magabala.com

Magabala Books is a not-for-profit publishing house based in Broome that aims to promote, preserve and publish Indigenous Australian culture.

Norma MacDonald descends from both the Yamatji and Nyungar people of Western Australia. Spinifex Mouse follows on from her 2011 success, Stolen Girl, also published through Magabala Books.

February 2013

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