November 2013

YMAC wins Pinnacle Award for Aboriginal Leadership

Posted: November 29th, 2013

Filed under: AIM WA WestBusiness Pinnacle Awards, Doris Eaton, Victor Mourambine

Winners of the the inaugural AIM WA/WestBusiness Pinnacle Awards. Photo: The West Australian

YMAC Co-Chairs Mrs Doris Eaton and Mr Victor Mourambine with His Excellency Malcolm McCusker.
Photo: The West Australian

The Western Australian business community last night recognised Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation  in the area of Aboriginal Leadership Development Excellence at the inaugural AIM WA/WestBusiness Pinnacle Awards.

More than 600 guests, including Premier Colin Barnett and Governor Malcolm McCusker, attended Crown Perth last night with Co-Chairpersons Mrs Doris Eaton and Mr Victor Mourambine accepting on behalf of YMAC.

Mrs Eaton said, “I want to recognise the hard work and the journey of Traditional Owners, particularly the leadership of the Yamatji and Pilbara Regional Committees and Board of Directors. I also acknowledge the Noongar people, on whose country we have received this award.”

For more about the award, click here

Chance to join a Hedland Community Consultation Group

Posted: November 28th, 2013

Filed under: BHP Billiton, Community Consultation Group, Port Hedland

BHP Billiton Iron Ore is looking for participants for it Hedland Community Consultative Group. The Group meets bi-monthly and serves as an opportunity for BHP to share information and get feedback from the community.

BHP is looking for people who are active in their community and who represent environmental groups, Aboriginal communities, ethnic communities, small businesses, contractors, educators, youth, community organisations and health and social services.

Contact belinda.fox@bhpbilliton.com for more information and expression of interest forms. Expressions of interest close on Dec. 9.

Read our excerpt from “The Miners”

Posted: November 26th, 2013

Filed under: Mrs Doris Eaton, Simon Hawkins, The Miners

Yamatji Marlpa’s CEO Simon Hawkins was featured in the recently published The Miners – Stories from the industry that drives modern Australia, by Barry Avery.

The Miners is available at www.theminers.net.au with proceeds going to the Starlight Foundation:

Read the excerpt here:

The 1992 event that has become known as the Mabo Decision changed the landscape of mining and exploration in Australia forever. This was a landmark High Court ruling that recognised the legal concept of Native Title for the first time, rejecting the previously held doctrine of terra nullius. It gave the Indigenous traditional owners certain legal rights to their land.

The Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC), of which Simon Hawkins has been chief executive for the past decade, is an organisation that represents 25 Aboriginal cultural groups across the Pilbara, Murchison and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia – including dealing with Australia’s major resource developers with respect to Native Title claims. Hawkins explains that recognition of Native Title does not give a veto over mining or development, as traditional owners cannot stop mining from going ahead. What it does give these groups is a right to negotiate, allowing development to go ahead while claims are being resolved. ‘This gives traditional owners a seat at the table – to have a say about how mining will unfold on their country,’ he says.

‘When I started as chief executive in 2003, the mining boom was ramping up and companies which previously had poor relationships with Aboriginal people were now knocking on our door. Within my first few weeks on the job, Rio Tinto said it wanted to do a comprehensive agreement in the Pilbara. (more…)

Shire of Roebourne grants for community and culture

Posted: November 21st, 2013

Filed under: community grants, culture and the arts, Karratha, Roebourne, Shire of Roebourne, sport and recreation

The Shire of Roebourne is again offering funding for community groups through their quarterly Community Grants and Contributions Scheme. Individuals or groups can apply for funds for either community arts and culture or sport and recreation programs.

More than $13,000 have been set aside for this round of funding. For more information visit www.roebourne.wa.gov.au/Funding.  Applications close on 21 February 2014.

On Badimaya Country- at the WA Museum

Posted: November 14th, 2013

Filed under: Badimia, Bidi Bidi Centre, Bundiyarra Irra Wanga language program, Geraldton, Mid West Development Commission, Mount Magnet, WA Museum, Wirnda Barna Artists

On Badimaya Country is a joint photographic and language documentation project between the Combined Universities Centre for Regional Health, the Bundiyarra – Irra Wangga Language Centre in Geraldton, the Bidi Bidi Centre of the Mount Magnet community and the Mid West Development Commission via Royalties for Regions funding.

Documenting a collection of experiences captured in photo and film over a 3-month period, the On Badimaya Country exhibition highlights the beautiful Aboriginal culture and country of the Badimaya people of Mount Magnet.

The exhibition also features artworks from Badimaya artists of Wirnda Barna Artists Inc., a not-for-profit Aboriginal arts centre in Mount Magnet.

This free exhibit is on at the WA Museum in Geraldton from 15 November to 2 February 2014.

YMAC’s policy submissions now available online

Posted: November 12th, 2013

Filed under: Aboriginal Heritage Act, Native Title Act, policy, YMAC

YMAC is constantly working towards recognition for the rights of Traditional Owners in the Pilbara and Yamatji regions. This includes advocating at all levels of government, and YMAC provides submissions to government and other bodies on issues that affect traditional owners.

Many of those key submissions from the last two years are now available for download on our website www.ymac.org.au/media-and-publications/policy-submissions/

These documents outline YMAC’s policy positions on many of the important issues being discussed by governments today, including proposed changes to Aboriginal heritage legislation and the Native Title Act.

Job opening for Badimia applicants

Posted: November 7th, 2013

Filed under: Badimia, Extension Hill, job vacancy, Mount Gibson Mining Ltd.

Members of the Badimia community are encouraged to apply for a current vacancy with Mt Gibson Iron Ltd on their Extension Hill operations.

Badimia people interested in the position of Trainee Truck Operator should contact Mark Walker, Production Manager on 9485 3305 or mark.walker@mtgibsoniron.com.au

Badimia strike agreement with Minjar Gold

Posted: November 1st, 2013

Filed under: agreement, Badimia, Midwest, Minjar Gold, Mount Magnet

The Badimia People, Traditional Owners in the Mid-West of WA have signed a native title  agreement with Minjar Gold for its proposed mining operations and future expansions, approximately 400kms north-north east of Perth.

“The Badimia people are looking forward to a beneficial relationship with Minjar Gold,”  said Reg Yates, Chairperson of the Badimia Working Group. “It is important that this  agreement gives preferential contracts to Badimia businesses. That is very valuable,  because it allows us to be partners in the process, and gives Badimia people a sense of  pride.”

Click here to read the full media release, or

check out the story on ABC here.