Country, Culture, People, Future

June 2022

Registrations Open: Phase 2 of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 co-design process

Posted: June 30th, 2022

The State Government’s intended co-design process in relation to the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 (WA) (ACH Act) is moving into the second phase, giving stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback throughout Western Australia.

This process will involve consultations regarding the creation of the regulations, statutory guidelines and operational policies associated with the ACH Act, which are yet to be developed.

The consultation workshops will take place throughout the Mid-West and Pilbara during July and August.

Based on feedback received during Phase 1, several of the workshops will be for Aboriginal participants only with workshops open to the general public held the following day.

YMAC strongly encourages those who have an interest in this important issue to get directly involved in the State Government’s process. You can find out more, including how to register for one of their upcoming workshops, here.

Alternatively, you can contact the Department of Planning, Lands, and Heritage directly by emailing achimplementation@dplh.wa.gov.au.

Training Opportunity – Disputes and Conflict on the Board

Posted: June 27th, 2022

Conflict and disputes are stressful events, and the success of your corporation can depend on how effectively they are managed.

ORIC are offering an intermediate-level workshop for Directors seeking information on what the law requires you to do when a conflict or complaint arises between members or Directors of your corporation.

DETAILS

Thursday, 30 June 2022

1.00pm to 4.00pm AEST (3 hours)

Online by Zoom

Although the information in this workshop is aimed at Directors, members and senior staff of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations are also eligible to attend.

ORIC will cover the registration fee for attendees. To register, click here

For more information, contact the ORIC Training team at Training@oric.gov.au or on 1800 622 431.

 

Inaugural Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council – Nominations NOW OPEN!

Posted: June 27th, 2022

The State Government is seeking members for the inaugural Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council (ACH Council).

The ACH Council will be the State Government’s peak strategic body for Aboriginal cultural heritage matters, providing advice to the Aboriginal Affairs Minister on Aboriginal cultural heritage matters, designate local Aboriginal cultural heritage services, and approve Aboriginal cultural heritage permits and management plans.

The ACH Council will consist of two Aboriginal chairpersons and include up to nine members on the council, with a requirement for the majority to be Aboriginal people.

Knowledge or experience in Aboriginal cultural heritage is required. Other areas of expertise that may be considered include archaeology, anthropology, engineering, and urban and regional planning.

The call out for nominations opens 23 June 2022 and will close at 5pm on Friday 22 July 2022.

To nominate click here or to find out more, call (08) 6551 8002.

Round five RED Grants NOW Open!

Posted: June 22nd, 2022

The State Government has opened the fifth round of the Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants program.

The RED Grants program is a State Government initiative that invests in locally driven projects that support efforts to create long-term economic growth and job sustainability in our regions.

Eligible applicants can apply for the funding for individual projects that support jobs, expand or diversify industries, develop skills or capabilities, increase business productivity, and attracts new investment to the regions.

Applications are now open and close on August 24, 2022.

More information about the RED Grants program is available here

2022 PBC Regional Forum & Compensation Workshop

Posted: June 21st, 2022

The National Native Title Council (NNTC), in conjunction with YMAC and the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), are hosting a PBC Regional Forum on Tuesday, 26 and Wednesday, 27 July. The forum will be followed by a workshop on Thursday, 28 July, which will provide information on compensation to native title groups and PBCs. Both events will be held at The Woolshed (21 Robinson Street) in Carnarvon.  

PBC Directors from YMAC’s Pilbara, Gascoyne, Murchison, and Mid West regions are invited. NIAA will cover travel and accommodation costs for two representatives per PBC. Additional PBC Directors are welcome to attend, however, this will be at their expense.

The PBC Regional Forum provides an opportunity for PBCs to hear about the work being carried out by the NNTC on national policy reform that will impact PBCs into the future.  Several sessions at the forum will be facilitated discussions on the future focus for PBCs, examples of decision-making structures, and how collaboration and networking works across your region.

At the compensation workshop, attendees will receive information about the High Court native title compensation decision for the town of Timber Creek.  In this decision, the High Court explained how compensation could be valued and calculated where native title rights have been taken away by the government. Information about different options native title holders may have to get native title compensation, the assistance and resources that will be required and what people can do to prepare for making a compensation claim or starting settlement negotiations with the government will also be presented.

For more information about these events, please contact YMAC Director of Projects, Kirsty Anderson, in our Perth office (E: kanderson@ymac.org.au; P: 0447 117 405).

To register your attendance, please contact YMAC Business Support Officer, Adrienne Cameron, in our Geraldton office (E: acameron@ymac.org.au; P: 08 9965 6222).

Join the campaign to make Mabo Day (3 June) a national public holiday

Posted: June 21st, 2022

YMAC is proud to support the efforts of the Mabo family, the National Native Title Council, and ANTaR in seeking to have ‘Mabo Day’ a nationally-recognised public holiday.

Already observed as a public holiday throughout the Torres Strait, those driving the current campaign, including Mabo’s grandson, Kaleb, assert it is a day for Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians alike to recognise and celebrate the landmark decision*.

The call to action is also very timely given this year’s NAIDOC theme – ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’ – which honours those community leaders and change-makers, such as Mr Mabo and his grandson, who have been champions in our communities over generations, advocating for their rights and positive change.

To show your support for the ‘Mabo Day’ campaign, please sign the recently launched petition.

* See, ‘It’s a day for all Australians’: Grandson calls for Mabo Day to be declared a national public holiday (sbs.com.au)

Badimaya Online Learning Portal

Posted: June 10th, 2022

The Bundiyarra Irra Wangga Language Centre in Geraldton have partnered with a small group of Badimaya (family/community) to develop an online ‘portal’ to learn and access the Badimaya language online.

As part of the consultation stage of the new community language initiative project, Bundiyarra Irra Wangga Language Centre are aiming to hold short information sessions about the portal development to gather ideas and feedback on the project.

For more information on the Badimaya Online Learning Portal and information sessions, please contact the Bundiyarra Irra Wangga Language Centre on (08) 9920 7900 or at language@irrawangga.org.au.

 

 

2022 Pilbara Community Services Excellence Awards – Nominations now open!

Posted: June 9th, 2022

Nominations for the 2022 Pilbara Community Services Excellence Awards are now open.

The awards celebrate the resilience, creativity, collaboration and leadership of organisations and individuals working in the community services sector across the region.

This year’s theme is ‘Unmasking our Pilbara Stars’, with a focus on acknowledging those who have gone above and beyond to: Dream, Engage, Overcome, and Inspire.

Winners will be announced at the Masquerade Gala Dinner on Saturday, 15 October 2022, at the Mia Mia Hotel in Newman.

To nominate an individual or organisation you would like to have recognised for their invaluable contribution to the community services sector in the Pilbara, visit pilbaraforpurpose.org.au/2022-awards. Noting, nominations close Friday, 22 July 2022.

For more information about the awards, contact Karen Armstrong from Pilbara 4 Purpose (E: pilbara4purpose@gmail.com; P: 0456 382 351).

Mabo Decision – 30th Anniversary

Posted: June 3rd, 2022

Today we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Mabo decision, a turning point for the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ traditional rights to ownership of their land, giving rise to important legislation with the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).

Eddie “Koiki” Mabo led the historic case that spanned over 10 years with over 4000 pages of evidence generated, conclusively proving that the eight clans of Mer Island had occupied the land for thousands of years.

Through his tireless campaigning, Mabo reshaped the history and laws of Australia by seeking recognition for all native title to exist amongst all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Eddie “Koiki” Mabo did not live to see the outcome of the ruling, sadly passing away at 55 from cancer five months prior to this landmark ruling.

The effects of the Mabo decision have not only changed understandings of colonisation but is also the reason why YMAC exists today; to represent Aboriginal people of the Pilbara, Midwest, Murchison, and Gascoyne regions of WA to be recognised as the Traditional Owners of their Country in achieving recognition for themselves.

Commemorating the milestone is far more than celebrating a big number for YMAC Chairperson from the Yamatji Region, Mr Peter Windie, who said “A lot has happened in the 30 years since the decision was handed down, but the standout for me is that this very important part of history was the inspiration for a lot of Aboriginal people right across the country. Many more people became just as determined in their own journey to fight for fairness and equality and of course their native title rights. This decision paved the way for a lot of our people because it meant that anything is possible.”

Since gaining recognition as a native title representative body in December 1994, YMAC is very proud to have supported groups across both of our regions to achieve 32 native title determinations. Each group has its own distinct culture and identity and are at a different stage in their native title journey.

YMAC strives not only to support native title recognition, but also to ensure that Native Title holders can best protect their rights, manage Country the way they want to, and create new opportunities for their people.

According to the latest figures from the National Native Title Tribunal, there have been 554 native title determinations since the historical case. These statistics and further details are available here.

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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