March 2025

Closing the Gap – Have your say!

Posted: March 26th, 2025

Have your say on the implementation of Closing the Gap, through the Independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led Review.

This independent review provides an opportunity for First Nations people to share their experiences of the implementation process of the Closing the Gap agreement.

Through a national survey, a national submission process, intensive forums, stakeholder interviews, and an in-person assembly, First Nations people are invited to share their lived experience, success stories, and ideas for building momentum for Closing the Gap.

The Independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led Review of Closing the Gap takes place after the Productivity Commission Review, which recently revealed government failure in addressing the issues faced by Aboriginal communities. After this year’s Productivity Commission Review, YMAC called on the State Government to urgently address the requests from Traditional Owners in the Pilbara and Yamatji regions, which are outlined both the 2024 Yule River Call to Action and Solutions Roadmap, and the 2024 Yamatji On-Country Call to Action.

Both of these documents are directly tied to the Closing the Gap Outcomes.

The Independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led Review of Closing the Gap is being conducted by the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research. The national survey and submission process is now open, with both closing on 16 April 2025.

To complete the survey and find out how else you can get involved, visit the Coalition of Peaks website.

Experience Tjaabi – Flood Country

Posted: March 24th, 2025

The Joondalup Festival is bringing stories and sounds from the Pilbara to Perth through Tjaabi – Flood Country, a celebration of Country and culture through immersive theatre, music, spoken word, and animation. With performances at Padbury Hall this Friday, 28 and Saturday, 29 March, get your tickets ($11-$19) via the Joondalup Festival website.

A tjaabi is a form of song unique to the Pilbara region, capturing stories, dreams, thoughts, and moments. Each song is sung by a particular person and relevant to a particular place, handed down through the generations.

Led by Ngarluma man Patrick Churnside, Tjaabi – Flood Country explores the many cultural and ecological pressures facing Aboriginal people in the Pilbara. A gifted storyteller, Patrick shares his life story through music, narrative, and humour. He grew up with the tjaabi song tradition; his grandfather Bob Churnside one of the West Pilbara’s most renowned singers. In Tjaabi – Flood Country, Patrick shares his own story of growing up the Pilbara, the lineage of cultural knowledge, contemporary relevance of Indigenous ecologies, working on Country, and the power of Ngarluma language.

“Tjaabi has become one of my passions and life’s work,” Patrick said. “I pour my heart into it, researching, learning and performing. Through my commitment to awakening and sharing tjaabi in this innovative intercultural project, I hope understanding and reconciliation will grow, greater awareness of country and stronger song, story and culture.”

For those in other parts of the state, the performance will also be touring later in the year:

• Cockburn – Sunday, 6 July
• Geraldton – Friday, 11 July
• Beverley – Wednesday, 16 July
• Harvey – Saturday, 19 July
• Margaret River – Saturday, 26 and Sunday, 27 July
• Port Hedland – Sunday, 16 November
• Karratha – Friday, 21 and Saturday, 22 November

Find out more about Tjaabi – Flood Country on the Big hART website.

Photo: Leith Alexander

YMAC’s New Strategic Plan – Have Your Say!

Posted: March 7th, 2025

Throughout 2025, Think Culture is supporting YMAC with consultation and the development of a new strategic plan for 2026 – 2030.

Think Culture is currently inviting people and organisations connected to YMAC’s work in our Yamatji and Marlpa regions to contribute their thoughts and ideas in this process by completing the online survey.

YMAC is committed to creating a plan that meets the current and future needs and aspirations in our regions, while also fulfilling our governance and native title representative body (NTRB) responsibilities for these areas.

Scan QR code in our flyer below or please click here to complete a survey. Survey closes 30 April.