2016

Paddy Poland documentary to air on NITV

Posted: December 8th, 2016

Filed under: Indigenous Documentary, Jimmy Poland, Malgana, NITV, SBS

A WA-produced documentary about Malgana man Jimmy “Paddy” Poland will be shown on NITV (SBS) over the next three years.

“Shark Bay Salt Water Stories: Yarning with Jimmy” is a collection of stories looking at Jimmy’s life growing up around the Gutharraguda (Shark Bay) area over nine decades.

The film tells his stories about growing up in the Shark Bay community, how he worked as a fisherman, stockman, shearing hand, and cook, and how he learned how to carve pearl shell, emu eggs and boab nuts from his father.

You can watch an excerpt here and learn more about the film at the Facebook page here.

Singing The Train

Posted: November 29th, 2016

Filed under: AIATSIS, Kariyarra, Ngarla, Njamal, Wangka Maya

For the next few months AIATSIS will exhibit Singing The Train. The exhibition tells through an Aboriginal song sung in Njamal language, of the first railway that ran between Port Hedland and Marble Bar in the Pilbara between1910 to 1951. The song was created by Aboriginal composer and stockman Larry Brown and passed to his daughter Topsy Fazeldean Brown who performed it in 1964 at Port Hedland.

Larry Brown composed Singing the Train using traditional Aboriginal song styles which expressed his feelings of this new addition of a train line to his Country. Singing The Train is a collaboration between Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre, Revolutions Transport Museum and AIATSIS. For more information on Singing The Train, you can visit the website here.

Wangka Maya celebrates book launch

Posted: November 17th, 2016

Filed under: Ngarla, Wangka Maya

An event to celebrate the launch of Partulyayimarta: Ngarla Birds will take place on Monday 28 November at Wangka Maya’s South Hedland office from 10.30am to 1.00pm.

Partulyayimarta: Ngarla Birds documents an Aboriginal way of identifying, naming, and classifying birds. It also provides additional cultural and linguistic information alongside scientific and common English names for 117 different birds found throughout traditional Ngarla Country.

For more information about the event, you can contact Wangka Maya at 9172 2344 or Larissa Brown at 0488 773 143. RSVP’s are welcomed until Thursday 24 November. The book is $40, and it is available for purchase at the event and on the Wangka Maya website here.

NAIDOC Week 2017 details announced

Posted: November 11th, 2016

The theme and poster competition for NAIDOC Week 2017 have been announced.

The theme will be ‘Our Languages Matter’ and will seek to celebrate the essential role Aboriginal languages have in cultural identity and linking people to their Country. You can learn more about he theme here.

The 2017 NAIDOC Week poster competition has also begun. You can find more information about the competition here, and download the entry form here.

2015/2016 Annual Report now available

Posted: November 7th, 2016

Filed under: Annual Report, Jurruru, Ngarluma, Nyangumarta IPA, PKKP, YMAC

YMAC is pleased to present its Annual Report for the 2015/2016 financial year.

In this reporting period, YMAC has achieved a number of significant outcomes for Traditional Owners across the Yamatji and Pilbara regions. These achievements include consent determinations for the Jurruru and PKKP peoples, recognition for the Ngarluma people, and the dedication of an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) for the Nyangumarta people.

Significant agreements also took place between Traditional Owners and miners, including a 100-year deal between the Banjima people and BHP Iron Ore that will ensure a bright future for Banjima culture and traditions.

For more information about our work during the reporting period, you can download a copy of the Annual Report here.

Petition calling for inquiry into DAA

Posted: October 27th, 2016

Filed under: Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee, Aboriginal Heritage Act, Department of Aboriginal Affairs, YMAC, Yule River

Resolutions passed at the on-Country Bush meeting held at Yule River in September included calling for an inquiry into the Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA) and the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee (ACMC). We are calling on the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia to action this. Have your say by signing and distributing this petition.

Original signed copies of the petition must be returned to YMAC by 15 December 2016 – copies, including scans and faxes, cannot be submitted. Even if the petition has only one signature on it, post it back to us – every signature counts.

You can download the petition here, and the resolution demanding the inquiry here. Signed copies of the petition can be mailed to our Perth office:

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation – Level 8, 12-14 The Esplanade, Perth WA, 6000

YMAC News 31 is now available

Posted: October 26th, 2016

Filed under: Aboriginal Heritage Act, Marapikurrinya Yintha, Regional Services Reform, YMAC News, Yule River

The latest issue of YMAC News is now available.

In this issue, we discuss the outcomes of the on-Country Bush Meeting at Yule River this year.

More than 350 Traditional Owners from across WA travelled to Yule River to discuss proposed amendments to the Aboriginal Heritage Act and the Regional Services Reform Roadmap. Two resolutions were unanimously passed by the meeting about the issues – you can read more about them inside.

We also highlight some successful boundary workshops and important discussions about claim overlaps happening in the Yamatji region, and we celebrate the re-instatement of Marapikurrinya Yintha as a heritage site.

We hope you enjoy this edition of YMAC News.

Campaign for more Rangers launched

Posted: October 17th, 2016

Filed under: Aboriginal Rangers, National Parks, Western Australia

A campaign to hire Aboriginal Rangers for National Parks in Western Australia has launched a new website.

Create Ranger Parks is raising awareness about State-owned outback stations. The campaign aims to hire Aboriginal Rangers to manage the upkeep of the parks as a cost effective way to take care of the stations while providing the opportunity to practice their law and culture.

The website and Facebook page offer information about the campaign and how to get involved. You can learn more about Create Ranger Parks on their website here and their Facebook page here.

Richmond Wellbeing: Aboriginal Family Fun Day

Posted: October 4th, 2016

Filed under: #aboriginalcommunity, #communityevent, #mentalhealthweek

Richmond Wellbeing is hosting their third annual Aboriginal Community Family Fun day on Wednesday 5 October from 10 am to 2 pm, at Champion Centre in Seville Grove, WA. The theme for this year’s event is Moorditj Moort, Moorditj Culunga (Strong Family, Strong Children)

Held during Mental Health Week, the day aims to promote the importance of mental health wellness to families.

The community event brings together mental health and drug and alcohol services in the area, locals will get to yarn and build connections with the people they can turn to for help if they need it. On offer will be free health checks, assistance from Centrelink for their online service and details on the NDIS.

Other activities for everyone to enjoy, include music and entertainment, a free kangaroo sausage sizzle and The Lindsay Culbong Cup- Elders running race.