2014

Native title agreement for the Kurama and Marthudunera (K&M) people over iron ore project

Posted: April 16th, 2014

Filed under: agreement, Kuruma Marthudunera, Pannawonica, Pilbara, Red Hill Iron

The Kurama and Marthudunera (K&M) people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia are pleased to announce an agreement with Iron Ore miners Red Hill Iron Ltd (RHI). The agreement covers RHI’s Pannawonica project, about 120 km south of Cape Preston.

Negotiations were completed in approximately six months, with the resulting agreement giving RHI native title approvals for its project. The K&M people will receive financial benefits and compensation from the company, which reflects the importance to the K&M people of minimising the impact of mining projects on their traditional country.

Download the full media release here.

Congratulations to Weerianna Street Media on heritage award

Posted: April 14th, 2014

Filed under: Ngarluma, Roebourne, Tyson Mowarin, Weerianna Street Media, Western Australian State Heritage Awards

This week,  Pilbara Aboriginal media company Weerianna Street Media was awarded the Professor David Dolan Award as part of the 2014 Western Australian Heritage Awards. These prestigious annual awards recognise outstanding commitment and contribution to heritage conservation, adaptive reuse, tourism and interpretation in Western Australia.

In 2007, Tyson Mowarin, a musician, digital storyteller and proud Ngarluma man from the Pilbara, established Weerianna Street Media to produce factual content for television broadcast and community archives. It aims to protect Burrup rock art, share community stories, history and cultural knowledge, improve awareness of Aboriginal traditions and custodial ownership via digital technologies. The judges said Weerianna Street Media draws on a myriad of digital technology and new media to share stories of Aboriginal people, culture and history to a world-wide audience. The digital platforms also provide an invaluable living archive for Aboriginal knowledge about the Dampier Archipelago.  See more at the State Heritage Awards

Congratulations Tyson!

Congratulations to the Badimia people and the Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga Language Centre

Posted: April 11th, 2014

Filed under: Badimaya Dictionary, Badimia, Bundiyarra Irra Wanga language program, Kirkalocka Station, language, Mt Magnet, Ollie George, Yamaji Language Centre

Badimia elder Ollie George and Bundiyarra linguist James Bednell at the launch of the Badimaya Dictionary

YMAC congratulates the Badimia people and the Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga Language Centre on the launch of the new Badimaya Dictionary. Badimia people can be proud that their culture and language is being preserved and developed into educational resources that can be shared across generations.

Several Badimia families, led by elder Ollie George, have worked on this project over the last 20 years. In the early 1990s initial preservation work was started by The Yamaji Language Centre, and the project was transferred to Bundiyarra – Irra Wangga Language Centre in 2005. Since 2012, Bundiyarra has collected more than 60 hours of audio and 10 hours of video recordings.
The dictionary was launched at a celebration on Badimia country at Kirkalocka station on 10 April. A Badimaya Guwaga wordlist and Alphabet Poster have also been developed alongside the dictionary, and will now join other Badimia language resources available from Bundiyarra, including story books, a photographic calendar and a picture book. For more information and to order any of these resources visit www.bundiyarra.org.au.

Tykeira Ward at the launch of the Badimaya Dictionary

Joan, Louwana and Alan Walsh at the launch of the Badimaya Dictiona

Malgana Traditional Owner Darren Capewell to feature Aboriginal food and drink showcase

Posted: April 4th, 2014

Filed under: Food, Malgana, Showcase, Tourism, WAITOC, Wula Guda Nyinda Eco Adventures

The Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) has announced Malgana Traditional Owner Darren Capewell will feature in a series of Aboriginal food and drink showcase experiences in WA.

Over the course of 2014, WAITOC will showcase ten Aboriginal Gourmet Experiences across Australia, from food and produce, seafood, food events, cafes and restaurants.

Darren Capewell from Aboriginal tourism operator Wula Guda Nyinda Eco Adventures will be the second to feature in the 10 month series.

Click here to visit the WAITOC website.

Our Tom Price office has moved

Posted: March 28th, 2014

Filed under: Tom Price., YMAC

Our office in Tom Price has moved just up the road. We are continuing to serve the Traditional Owners of the Pilbara from our new premises at lot 974 Central Road in Tom Price.

All of our other contact details remain the same, and you can always reach your nearest YMAC office for free by calling 1300 7 12345.

Aboriginal Arts Center opens in Port Hedland

Posted: March 14th, 2014

Filed under: Art, Community, Pilbara, Port Hedland, Spinifex Hill Studio

Spinifex Hill Studio’s, the first dedicated professional aboriginal arts center, opened in Port Hedland last week.

Local aboriginal artists were joined by dignitaries and hundreds of people from across the Pilbara to celebrate the historic opening.

For more information on the center, including opening times, click here.

Banjima people celebrate recognition after a battle in the Federal Court

Posted: March 14th, 2014

Filed under: Banjima, Federal Court, Karijini, Maitland Parker, Native Title Determination, WA State Government

Banjima Traditional Owners with Justice Barker at their on-country native title determination this week

On 11th March 2014, the Federal Court recognised the native title rights of the Banjima People at their on-country determination held in Karijini National Park in the Central Pilbara.

The Banjima People first lodged their native title claim in 1998 and have been in litigation with the WA State Government since 2011 after being unable to move forward with a negotiated outcome.

Maitland Parker, Banjima elder, said “We have fought for this for a long time, so to be recognised as traditional owners is very rewarding. Our elders have taught us all of the things we needed to get our determination. They have taught us our law, language and culture, which we will pass on our young people.”

Simon Hawkins, CEO for Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation said it was a momentous occasion for the Banjima people.

Click here to learn more.

Free Into Business workshops

Posted: March 14th, 2014

Filed under: Carnarvon, Geraldton, Ideas, Indigenous Business Australia, Management, Opportunities, Planning

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) are holding free Into Business workshops for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are interested in turning a business idea into reality.

Over a series of three self-paced workshops you will have the opportunity to assess whether your idea can be developed into a commercially viable business.

The Into Business one-day workshops are held several weeks apart and cover the following broad topics:
Workshop A – your business idea, goals and expectations
Workshop B – marketing and managing your business
Workshop C – financial planning and management.

The next workshop A’s are at:

• Carnarvon – 18 March 2014 – 8:30am – 4:30pm
• Geraldton – 19 March 2014 – 8:30am – 4:30pm     

For future dates and further information please contact Indigenous Business Australia on  1800 107 107 or visit www.iba.gov.au/itb

Landmark High Court decision in favour of Traditional Owners

Posted: March 12th, 2014

Filed under: High Court of Australia, Mt. Goldsworthy, native title extinguishment, Ngarla, Pilbara, State of WA

The Ngarla People welcome today’s High Court decision, confirming that their native title rights were not extinguished by mining leases. The landmark ruling by the Court dismissed arguments by the Western Australian Government that 50 year-old mining leases, granted over areas 150km east of Port Hedland, permanently extinguished all native title rights in that land.

YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins said, “We congratulate the Ngarla people on this landmark High Court decision and their contribution to native title nationally.”

To listen to the ABC Rural interview with YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins regarding the landmark decision click  here.

To read the full media release click here.