Country, Culture, People, Future

November 2020

Carbon Farming guide now available

Posted: November 30th, 2020

A new guide which outlines the benefits of carbon farming and how Aboriginal organisations can participate in this industry has been launched by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

The publication called ‘Setting up for success’ is focused on Human Induced Regeneration (HIR) carbon farming projects on pastoral leases. The guide includes information about how Aboriginal Organisations can benefit from carbon farming projects. It also describes the requirements for carbon project developers to obtain free, prior and informed consent from Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate.

HIR activities can improve agricultural productivity, soil health, and water quality, and help protect native species of plants and animals.

HIR activities include:

  • keeping livestock away from growing trees
  • grazing livestock for shorter periods in certain areas
  • managing feral animals in a humane way
  • managing plants that aren’t native or wouldn’t naturally occur in the project area, and
  • stopping the removal of trees that are growing in the project area.

A copy of the guide can be found here.

Aboriginal corporations and groups can also seek further assistance from the Aboriginal Economic Development team at DPIRD by email aed@dpird.wa.gov.au or call 0459 867 908.

Applications open for Aboriginal heritage grants

Posted: November 13th, 2020

Aboriginal not-for-profit organisations are invited to apply for the annual grants program to protect and promote registered Aboriginal heritage sites in Western Australia.

The Preserving our Aboriginal Sites grant program is offering grants of up to $30,000 for ‘on-the­-ground’ projects such as remediation of burial sites, fence and signage installation, and promotion of cultural information.

Previous projects funded by the State Government program include fencing Aboriginal burial sites on Belele Station in the Murchison, installation of interpretive cultural signage in the Shark Bay UNESCO world heritage area, and permanent fencing and heat-resistant signage highlighting cultural significance of Boogooda in the Kimberley.

Applications close on January 29, 2021, with successful projects expected to be announced in April 2021. For more information or to apply click here

New guidelines to promote Aboriginal language for place naming

Posted: November 12th, 2020

The Aboriginal and Dual Naming Guidelines for naming Western Australian geographic features and places have been launched by the State Government, to help preserve and reawaken local languages through Aboriginal place names.

Developed in consultation with local governments, Aboriginal organisations and other key stakeholders, the guidelines give communities across Western Australia the tools to identify opportunities for Aboriginal place naming and implement them.

Geographical features and places in Western Australia were named by Aboriginal peoples long before the arrival of non-Aboriginal people. The names are intrinsically attached to an Aboriginal group’s understanding of its history, culture, rights, and responsibilities to the lands.

The guidelines emphasise engaging with traditional owners early on to acknowledge their connect to Country. Additionally, these guidelines are intended to support local government and other agencies in the development of their Reconciliation Action Plan.

The guidelines can be accessed here.

Register now for the International Indigenous Governance Conference

Posted: November 11th, 2020

Reconciliation Australia is partnering with the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute to host a two-day virtual conference on International Governance, this December.

The event provides First Nations peoples with a valuable opportunity for knowledge sharing and networking, as the virtual format will bring together people from all over the world.

The conference will cover:

  • Self-Governance
  • Self Determination
  • Treaties: Development and Innovation
  • Indigenous Women in Governance
  • Innovation and New Knowledge
  • Nation Building
  • Succession Planning

The full program can be viewed here

DATE:

Wednesday 2 December and Thursday 3 December 2020

LOCATION:

Virtual Event

Brisbane, QLD 4000

TIME: Conference will commence at 5:30am AWST each day.

Please be mindful of the time difference when booking to attend.

For more information on how to register, please click here

Remote Aboriginal Communities update

Posted: November 10th, 2020

To help keep remote Aboriginal communities safe from COVID-19, Government has put in place strict travel restrictions. Tourists and travellers are not allowed to enter.

Some remote Aboriginal communities have applied for exclusions from the travel restrictions and they, or their amenities, are open to visitors.

Information and maps on the communities that remain closed, and that that have applied for exclusions – as well as how to plan a trip – can be found on the WA Government COVID-19 webpages.

WA Sandalwood Taskforce Recommendations released & open for public consultation

Posted: November 9th, 2020

Attention Aboriginal stakeholders across the southern rangelands and ‘mulga zone’ of the Mid West, Murchison and Goldfields: Your feedback is needed!

The WA Government has released eight (8) recommendations of the WA Sandalwood Taskforce to support the growth of economic opportunities for Aboriginal people in the wild sandalwood industry.

The recommendations address key issues such as barriers to participation, resource inventory, capacity building and quota allocation.

The WA Sandalwood Taskforce was established in late 2019 to explore opportunities for Aboriginal economic development in the WA sandalwood industry.

The report is open now for public consultation, closing end of November 2020.

A link to report can be found here:

All comments on the report can be sent to sandalwood.taskforce@fpc.wa.gov.au.

NAIDOC Week – Bundiyarra family day

Posted: November 5th, 2020

This year’s theme for NAIDOC Week is ‘Always Was, Always Will Be.

Always Was’. Always Will Be. recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.

NAIDOC Week events are usually held in July, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some exhibitions and events were held virtually.

WA and other States will now hold events from 9 – 15 November and this year, YMAC Geraldton staff will be attending the NAIDOC Week family day at Bundiyarra on Thursday, 12th November.

Come down and visit our staff between 10am – 2pm, and have a chat about some of the important work that we have been a part of this year.

For more information about NAIDOC week click here.

Read more about the WA artist and designer of the 2020 NAIDOC Week poster.

Ancient creation saga first major exhibition for WA Museum Boola Bardip

Posted: November 5th, 2020

The first major exhibition for the new WA Museum Boola Bardip will celebrate Australia’s culture in showcasing Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters.

Songlines will share the story of the dramatic chase of the seven sisters from Roebourne in the Pilbara through 500,000 square kilometres of desert, including Martu and Ngaanyatjarra lands in the west, to the APY (Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) Lands.

The exhibition is the culmination of more than five years of collaboration between Aboriginal communities and the National Museum of Australia (NMA). It features more than 300 paintings and objects plus song, dance, photography and multimedia.

The WA Museum Boola Bardip opens on November 21 with a nine-day festival, and entry to the exhibition is free of charge.

For more information visit: museum.wa.gov.au/ballot

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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