Country, Culture, People, Future

2017

Big plans on track for Littlewell mob

Posted: September 22nd, 2017

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The Littlewell mob in Western Australia’s mid-west are on the trail of realising a dream.  Seven years after setting out to preserve the old Littlewell reserve where they and family members grew up, it is set to open as a heritage precinct and walking trail by the end of the year.

The Littlewell reserve sits on the outskirts of Mingenew, a town nearly 400km north of Perth and about 100km south-east of the coastal city of Geraldton. A 500m walking trail that incorporates the reserve’s history and the stories of those who lived there could open before Christmas.

Wattandee elder Thomas Cameron, who grew up at Littlewell, says the four hectare reserve — which operated from 1898 until 1972 — was originally named the Mingenew Aboriginal Reserve, but residents called it by another name.

“We called it Littlewell because prior to having two-bedroom houses built by Native Welfare at the time, we lived in humpies and the well supplied people who lived on the reserve at the time,” Mr Cameron, 63, said.

A great grandfather, Mr Cameron said the site was important to hundreds of people who had lived there and their descendants. He hoped tourists and other visitors would be interested in the reserve’s history. Guided tours may be held.  “I’m a great grandfather now and I’ve taken my grandson back there to country and told him this is the little well, this is where we grew up and where we learned to work and we learned to corroboree and all that,” Mr Cameron said. “It’s important to our children and their children to give them a better understanding and concept of how we lived and how life was back in the reserve days.”

To read the full article, please follow the link: Littlewell reserve heritage precinct

Thomas Cameron and the people featured in this article and in the photo members of the Southern Yamatji claim group.

Information Management Officer – Opportunity

Posted: September 18th, 2017

YMAC is seeking a talented and committed Information Management Officer to join our Legal and Research team of professionals working closely with our Lawyers and Anthropologists on work in relation to filing and digitising of legal and research materials, a key project in relation to the return of research materials (RoRM) projects and organising, locating and accessing research material. The work will also include assisting in relation to the return of legal materials.

Please visit our Careers page for more information: Information Management Officer advertisement

Applications for this position close on the 20 October 2017. If you have questions, please contact:

Amy Usher,  Email: ausher@ymac.org.au or Phone: (08) 9268 7000

Senior Heritage Officer Positions in Geraldton and Pilbara

Posted: September 12th, 2017

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The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (Department) engages with Aboriginal Western Australians and all levels of Government to improve the delivery of services and to facilitate the development of policy and programs, which deliver suitable economic, environmental and social benefits to Aboriginal communities.

The Department is seeking two experienced individuals to undertake the role of Senior Heritage Officer. One role is based in Geraldton and one is based in South Hedland (although the Pilbara role may be located in Karratha or Roebourne and applications are also encouraged from these areas). Both are permanent full-time positions. Aboriginality is a genuine occupational requirement of this position under Section 50D of the WA Equal Opportunity Act.

Reporting to the Team Leader Regions, the successful candidate will:

  • Undertake project work relating to Aboriginal heritage, across Western Australia in line with the strategic direction of the heritage directorate including the provision of advice to external stakeholders relating to the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to develop heritage projects to preserve and protect Aboriginal Sites
  • Support the Team Leader in identifying and achieving heritage outcomes in line with the agreed Directorate outcomes.

Please use the links below to view the Department website for a job description form and further information about the duties and the job related requirements which will be used to select the successful candidate. Suitable candidates, not selected to fill this vacancy, may be considered for other employment opportunities (in like positions and like locations) over the next 12 months.

Geraldton Candidates:  Senior Heritage Officer, Geraldton

Pilbara Candidates: Senior Heritage Officer, Pilbara 

David Taft Wins Clive Poole Spatial Excellence Award

Posted: September 1st, 2017

It’s that time of year again when the YMAC Spatial Team hand out the annual ‘Clive Poole Spatial Excellence Award’.  This award honors and remembers Clive who joined YMAC from the National Native Title Tribunal in 2012. He had an enormous impact on how spatial data was viewed, managed and used in the department. Prior to 2012, YMAC had no dedicated spatial information officer so Clive had a massive job organising and cataloging data, setting up spatial systems and processes, and educating staff about spatial data, its use and the benefits it can bring to the workplace.

Each year the YMAC Spatial Team presents the award to a staff member in recognition of their commitment, willingness and enthusiasm to learn about all things spatial. There’s been a lot of strong competition this year (and many excellent QGIS analysis and maps produced). After much deliberation, the YMAC Spatial Team have chosen David Taft, Claim Lawyer based in the Geraldton office, to receive the award.

Congratulations and well done David!

David Taft wins 2017 Clive Poole Award

David Taft wins 2017 Clive Poole Spatial Excellence Award

 

Nyangumarta Rangers

Posted: August 25th, 2017

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Indigenous Protected Areas and Working on Country Indigenous Ranger Programme wins Global Future Policy Award

Posted: August 23rd, 2017

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Australia’s commitment to land conservation through Indigenous Protected Areas and the Working on Country Indigenous Ranger programme has been recognised by the World Future Council, confirming that Australia will be awarded the Bronze Future Policy Award 2017 for empowering Indigenous people in the area of land restoration.

Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Hon. Nigel Scullion, said the Coalition Government was providing unprecedented support for Indigenous rangers. “Our record levels of funding for the Indigenous ranger programme has taken our total investment in Indigenous rangers to more than $550 million over seven years through to 2020,” Minister Scullion said. “This investment is not only leading to better environmental outcomes on country, but is providing valuable employment opportunities for more than 2500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Indigenous Ranger Programme is a great example of the traditional knowledge of our First Australians being combined with modern scientific know-how to improve environmental outcomes on country and I am proud that the work being carried out by our Indigenous rangers has been recognised on the world stage. We have long recognised the success of the Indigenous ranger programme, which is why the Coalition Government recently announced a new $30 million Capacity Building for Indigenous Rangers Strategy. It is fitting that we accept this award on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Indigenous Protected Areas Programme – a Howard Government initiative that has transformed large parts of our country.

Alexandra Wandel, Director of the World Future Council (WFC):
Australia’s win of the Bronze Future Policy Award is sending a strong, empowering message: they show how a country vulnerable to desertification and climate change can find a smart and highly effective way to successfully address a global challenge.This is placing Australia, along with the other Future Policy Awardees, firmly on the map as an environmental leader.

The Future Policy Award is the only award which honours policies rather than people on an international level. Each year, the World Future Council chooses a topic for the Future Policy Award on which policy progress is particularly urgent. In 2017, in partnership with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), laws and policies were evaluated that contribute to the protection of life and livelihoods in the drylands, and help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 15, target 3, to “combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.” The Awards will be presented at a ceremony in September 2017, at the thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties of the UNCCD in Ordos, China.

More information on this year’s award recipients can be found at: World Future Council

YMAC Board Does Not Support Cashless Welfare Card

Posted: August 17th, 2017

The YMAC Board of Directors are representatives of Aboriginal native title claim groups, PBCs, corporations and communities across WA. The YMAC Board does not support the cashless welfare card being promoted by Andrew Forrest because it unfairly discriminates against Aboriginal people.

The Minderoo Foundation video targets vulnerable people and unfairly exploits them. It perpetuates a racist stereotype that is held within the non-Aboriginal community that these people cannot be trusted to manage their own affairs. This propaganda is damaging to the good work that many are doing to build positive relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.

YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins states “… YMAC and the Australian public needs to see the data from the trial of the program to determine the merits of the cashless card, not just selective evidence from a few individuals. Broader consultation with the Aboriginal communities likely to be impacted by the program is needed to empower Aboriginal people to make informed choices on these matters.”

See more in the media release: ymac.org.au/media-releases/3960/

NITV calls for emerging Indigenous film-makers to apply for Spirit Initiative 2017

Posted: August 11th, 2017

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NITV is calling for up and coming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander film-makers to apply for the fifth annual Spirit Initiative. Formerly known as the Spirit Award, the Initiative includes a professional development opportunity with NITV in addition to the opportunity to make a short documentary as part of NITV’s Our Stories. The winner will be flown to Sydney for a three week work experience placement where they will be mentored and trained by NITV’s experienced staff from a range of departments. They will then be commissioned to produce a 15-minute Our Stories documentary in language and a news story from their local community.

Applicants are required to submit a three minute ‘sizzle reel’ – a snapshot showcase of their work – and a pitch for their 15 minute documentary.
Applications close Friday 1 September 2017, with the winner to be announced at the 19th National Remote Indigenous Media Festival in Irrunytju, Western Australia from 25-30 September 2017.

For more information and to apply online visit: nitv-spirit-initiative

 

Call for entries in “The Art of Wellbeing” Art Competition

Posted: July 26th, 2017

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Not-for-profit mental health organisation, Richmond Wellbeing, has launched their inaugural ‘The Art of Wellbeing’ competition and exhibition.

It gives the WA Aboriginal community a chance to share their culture through their art, by submitting their interpretation of wellbeing in their chosen artistic form such as painting, photography, and sculpture. Up to 20 finalists will be selected and paid for their artwork, and the winner will be given the enriching experience of working with celebrated artist Janine Daddo and highly respected Noongar artist Wendy Hayden. The mentoring program from these esteemed artists will assist in spring boarding their career.

How to Enter

  1. Send the completed form by Monday 21st August 2017 to admin@rw.org.au or post to
        The Art of Wellbeing
        Richmond Wellbeing
        29 Manning Road
        Cannington, WA 6107
  2. We will contact you with an Entry Pack, to be completed by Friday 27th October.

Look out for our helpful Assistance Day, coming in September 2017. Let the inspiration flow!

Expressions of interest will close 21st August. For more information, visit: www.rw.org.au/the-art-of-wellbeing

Country is our mother, the provider and keeper of cultural belongings. Country and Culture go together. You can’t have one without the other.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians throughout Western Australia, and on whose Country we work. We acknowledge and respect their deep connection to their lands and waterways.

We honour and pay respect to Elders, and to their ancestors who survived and cared for Country.

Our offices are located on Whadjuk Country, Southern Yamatji Country, Yinggarda Country, Kariyarra Country, and Yawuru Country. We recognise the continuing culture, traditions, stories and living cultures on these lands and commit to building a brighter future together.

Disclaimer: Caution: Please be advised that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased people.

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