August 2020

Our Knowledge, Our Way Guidelines available

Posted: August 21st, 2020

“Sharing the knowledge for caring for our Land” © Emma Burchill

Guidelines that have been driven by Indigenous people to strengthen knowledge sharing about land and sea management are now available to download.

The Our Knowledge Our Way in caring for Country Best Practice Guidelines, has been developed as a resource for Indigenous land managers to learn from others on options for bringing their knowledge into environmental and economic development. It is also an invaluable resource for partners of Indigenous land managers.

The development of the guidelines was supported by the Northern Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) and CSIRO, and funded by the Northern Australia Hub of the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP). They are based on 23 case studies that illustrate the critical principle that Indigenous people must decide: What is best practice when working with their knowledge?

You can read more about and access the guidelines here.

CATSI Act Review: Your feedback is needed

Posted: August 12th, 2020

National Indigenous Affairs Agency (NIAA) has published the feedback on phase one of the CATSI Act Review and needs your feedback.

The draft report for the review of the CATSI Act is now available on the NIAA’s website. It outlines a range of possible amendments to the CATSI Act and raises a number of questions for stakeholders.

Feedback can be provided a number of different ways including by completing chapter surveys, providing a written submission and by filling out the web-based feedback form on the NIAA’s website.

The NIAA is also holding virtual consultation sessions. In the coming week, the following sessions are being held:

• 13 August 2020, 2:30pm-4:30pm: Draft Report Overview
• 14 August 2020, 11:00am-12:00pm: Governance
• 17 August 2020, 10:00am-11.30am: Unclaimed Money Account
• 18 August 2020, 3:00pm-4:00pm, Unclaimed Money Account
• 19 August 2020, 9.30am-10.30am, Modernising the CATSI Act
• 19 August 2020, 1.30pm-3:00pm, Modernising the CATSI Act

You can find more information on how to provide feedback on the NIAA’s website,  including the form to register for the virtual consultation sessions.

If these options are not accessible for you, please email the CATSI Act Review Team at CATSIActReview@niaa.gov.au  so that they can organise an alternative approach to suit your needs.

Consultation for Phase 2 closes on 21 September 2020.

Ningaloo ILUA realises Elders’ dream

Posted: August 5th, 2020

Congratulations to Baiyungu and Thalanyji Traditional Owners, who yesterday celebrated the realisation of a long-held dream through the signing of the Ningaloo ILUA with the State Government of Western Australia.

An on-Country signing was held to mark this historic occasion in Coral Bay. Attendees included Traditional Owners, representatives from State Solicitors Office and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), Environment Minister Stephen Dawson and YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins.

The ILUA enables creation of a recreation and conservation reserve along the spectacular Ningaloo Coast. The proposed Ningaloo (Nyinggulu) Coastal Reserves covers the former Ningaloo pastoral lease to Red Bluff (currently called “the Ningaloo Coastal Reserve”) and as well as additional areas of land and water to be added into the current Cape Range National Park, the Ningaloo Marine Park, and the creation of easements.

The conservation estate will be jointly vested and managed by a joint management body, comprised of representatives of Nganhurra Thanardi Garrbu Aboriginal Corporation (NTGAC) and the (DBCA).

The Baiyungu and Thalanyji people celebrated their native title determination in December 2019.  YMAC is proud to have supported both the determination and these negotiations, and to witness these next steps in self-determination.

YMAC looks forward to more ILUA’s to be developed in consultation with Traditional Owners through the Government’s Plan for Our Parks initiative, which aims to increase the conservation estate in Western Australia by five million hectares over five years through new jointly managed parks and reserves.

To view the media statement click here.