2016

Pilbara Field Guide to help protect agriculture

Posted: June 10th, 2016

A new book published by CSIRO, The Botanic Garden, Parks Authority and BHP Billiton aims to be an essential tool for miners, pastoralists and conservation managers to rehabilitate their land.

The Pilbara Seed Atlas and Field Guide is the product of eight years of research, and includes an identification guide for 100 common plant species and how to collect, clean, store and germinate their seeds.

The book is part of a larger project called the Restoration Seedbank Initiative which involves the University of Western Australia. The initiative is investigating new technologies to help deliver better environmental outcomes in the Pilbara.

You can learn more about the field guide at the CSIRO website here, or purchase it through Angus and Robertson for $65.

Yamatji artists to host exhibition in Fremantle

Posted: June 8th, 2016

Filed under: Art exhibition, Fremantle, Wirnda Barna Artists, Yamatji

The Wirnda Barna Aboriginal Art Centre will be travelling from Badimaya and Wadjarri Country in the upper Murchison region of Western Australia to Fremantle to host the “ Our Country” Art Exhibition. The exhibition will be held between 9 June and 22 June 2016 at the Kidogo Art House.

The Wirnda Barna Aboriginal Art Centre is Australia’s newest not-for-profit Aboriginal art centre. Wirnda Barna supports and represents Aboriginal Artists across Yamatji Country.

Wirnda Barna says its art centre offers a secure, creative and ethical environment where local artists can work together to share knowledge, connect with their language and generate income by selling their art.

You can learn more about Wirnda Barna art centre and the exhibition at their website.

2016 NAIDOC Poster winner announced

Posted: June 1st, 2016

Filed under: 2016 NAIDOC Week, Songlines

Lani Balzan is the artist behind the winning submission of the 2016 NAIDOC poster. Songlines: The Living Narrative of our Nation is the theme for this year.

Ms Balzan is a Wiradjuri Aboriginal woman from New South Wales, and she has chosen to name her artwork ‘Songlines Tie All Aboriginal People Together’. She was awarded a $5000 cash prize.

100 entries were made to the competition, but NAIDOC organisers unanimously decided on Ms Balzan’s work.

The poster will be distributed across the country to promote NAIDOC Week, which runs from 3-10 July.

A digital copy of the poster can be downloaded here, and you can visit the official NAIDOC website for more information about this year’s theme.

National Reconciliation Week Celebrations in Geraldton

Posted: May 26th, 2016

Filed under: reconsiliation

From 26 May to 3 June, the City of Geraldton will host a series of events for National Reconciliation Week. There are many activities for both locals and visitors to look forward to over the week.

On Saturday, 28 May, the Midwest Yamatji Music Association will host a free concert at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre from 1PM to 10.30PM. The concert will feature Yabu Band, Morning Suns and other artists. Alongside the music there will be an array of community stalls, food and drinks for sale, sand art, dance and circus groups, poetry reading and language classes.

A day of free activities is also planned for Tuesday, 31 May, in Queens Park and at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre. Community members are invited to ‘BBQ in the Park’ featuring food and drink stalls, entertainment by the Bartlett Brothers and speaker Rod Little.

Closing Ceremonies for the week’s events will take place in Edith Cowen Square on Thursday 2 June, and will include an afternoon tea. The Closing Ceremonies will begin at 2PM and finish at 4PM.

For more information about the week’s events, or to contact the City of Geraldton, you can visit the City’s events page here.

Certificate III in Aboriginal Languages now offered

Posted: April 29th, 2016

Filed under: Aboriginal languages, Banjima, Certificate III, Kariyarra, Nyiyaparli, Wangka Maya, Yinhawangka

A Certificate III in Aboriginal Languages is now being offered by South Hedland-based language centre Wangka Maya. The course is designed to help maintain the languages spoken by Traditional Owners across Australia.

The nationally accredited certificate is a week-long intensive course, and the first students represented seven different language groups from the Pilbara including Kariyarra, Yinhawangka, Banjima and Nyiyaparli.

The units aim to teach students about the history, vitality and distribution of Aboriginal languages. Courses include identifying language needs in the community and workplace, raising awareness about Aboriginal languages and producing sounds in Aboriginal languages.

For more information about the program, you can visit the Wangka Maya website here, and for specifics about the course you can visit the Resource Network for Linguistic Diversity.

Aboriginal interactive comic takes the web by storm

Posted: April 25th, 2016

https://vimeo.com/47006541

An interactive digital comic book series developed by more than 30 Ieramugadu (Roebourne) children and designed by social arts group Big hART has won a prestigious national award.

NEOMAD, the adventures of regional youth and featuring local Elders, is based on real residents living in a futuristic version of the town.

As part of Big hART’s Yijala Yala Project, NEOMAD is set around Murujuga, home to rock art almost 30 000 years old. The comic series has been described as a pioneering way of interpreting ancient heritage through contemporary tools.

The project won the Gold Ledger this month, and the children involved say their project shows how kids can work together to keep their culture strong, keep industry in check and keep Country beautiful.

NEOMAD is currently a three-part series and is available through iTunes here. More videos about NEOMAD and its production are available on the Yijala Yala Project’s Vimeo page.

Indigenous Apprenticeships available

Posted: April 22nd, 2016

Filed under: Apprenticeships, Commonwealth, Jobs, Public Service

The Commonwealth’s Indigenous Apprenticeships Programme is accepting applications until 11 May 2016.

The program is designed to provide Aboriginal Australians an entrance to 200 career opportunities across 11 federal government departments. The jobs are full-time, available across the country and involve on-the job training.

Successful applicants will work for 12 months and obtain both a competitive salary and a nationally recognised certificate or diploma qualification.

Those interested in learning more about the program, the recruitment process or applications can get more information from the Commonwealth website here.

First on-Country children’s camp in Karajini

Posted: April 15th, 2016

In partnership with the Nintirri Centre, IBN Corporation will be hosting the first on-Country children’s cultural camp in Karajini National Park.

Camp Kurlungka, part of the fourth annual Karijini experience, will run between 15 and 22 April 2016. The camp is designed for 10 to 15 year olds, and IBN Corporation says it is a project meant to lay the groundwork for an expanded program in the future.

The camp will offer a variety of activities, including traditional tool making, throwing, astronomy, bush walking and interaction with local Elders. Health and fitness programs like team sports, yoga and a bush tucker cooking class with Indigenous celebrity chef Mark Olive is on offer.

The days will end with an exciting line up of musicians, and throughout the week campers will be working with renowned Indigenous opera singer Deborah Cheetham to compose and produce an original song.

IBN Corporation is a not for profit trustee for the Yinhawangka, Banyjima and Nyiyaparli people. You can contact IBN Corporation here to learn more about the camp.

ABSTUDY funding available for Indigenous students

Posted: April 4th, 2016

Filed under: ABSTUDY, Education, Indigenous students

Indigenous students seeking higher education and apprenticeship qualifications are urged to investigate financial assistance through the Commonwealth Department of Human Service’s ABSTUDY program.

ABSTUDY is designed to assist students of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent with costs related to uniforms, textbooks and equipment. The program can also help students who are living away from home with funding for travel and board.

If you are 16 years old or older, or a parent of a student under the age of 16, you may be eligible for these benefits.

Information on ABSTUDY and the related Relocation Scholarship is available at this link.

You can also manage your access through the program via Centrelink’s Express Plus App, available here.