Posts By: Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation

2016 National NAIDOC Poster Competition open for submissions

Posted: February 12th, 2016

The Australian Government is now accepting applications for its annual poster competition to celebrate NAIDOC Week.

The 2016 National NAIDOC Poster Competition is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists aged 13 and older, and a cash prize of $5000 will go to the winner.

The artwork must reflect this year’s theme of “The Living Narrative of Our Nation”.

Entry forms can be downloaded via the Commonwealth’s website here, and can be posted digitally or by mail. Applications may also be submitted using the online form on the website.

The deadline for submissions is Monday 21 March, 2016 at 5:00PM AEST.

*Warning – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are warned that the Commonwealth’s NAIDOC web site may contain images of deceased people.

Red Dust in Her Veins: Women of the Pilbara now available in ebook

Posted: February 8th, 2016

Filed under: Melva Stone, Pilbara

The E-book version of Lisa Holland-McNair’s, Melva Stone’s and Erica Smith’s Red Dust in Her Veins: Women of the Pilbara is now available through Amazon, iTunes and Kobo.

The 2007 work details the stories of 12 women and their lives in the Pilbara, and feature 25 full colour pages of pictures, maps and historical information to “show the Pilbara at its remote and ruggedly best.”

The book, dedicated to women of the Pilbara past, present and future, is donating all proceeds to the Flying Doctor Service.

In the foreword, Ms Stone writes that her work offers a glimpse into the multitude of ways the land and Country shapes the lives of its inhabitants, and becomes core to their identity.

“[This book] provides a window into the lives of four indigenous women who were born and have lived most of their lives there, and eight non-Indigenous women travelled to the region for work or with their families,” writes Stone.

“All of these women offer an insight into how they have found ways to meet the challenges of coping with change, with isolation from family, friends and technology, with health scares, while managing their relationships and working in new jobs.

“Their stories are invaluable for anyone contemplating ‘going bush’ to discover who they are and what’s important to them.”

One of the women featured in Stone’s work is Patricia Fry, an Aboriginal woman hailing from the Gibson Desert in the Pilbara’s far east. She writes in her story that nothing can replace the fondness she has for home.

“When I think of the land, I think of the red, red ochre…my last long trip up there was right out to my mother’s country, on Lake Percival – we called it Winpa,” writes Ms Fry.

“I knew as soon as I felt that wind on my face that I was home, I knew it was my father’s, my uncle’s, my mother’s country – I couldn’t get there quick enough, and when I arrived I just sat down and cried.

“I never wanted to leave.”

Hard copies of the book can be found at Elizabeth’s Bookstore or at the above Amazon link.

Applications open for third round of NSRF funding

Posted: February 1st, 2016

Filed under: NSRF

Round three of the National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF) opened for applications on Friday 15 January 2016.

Not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for amounts ranging from $20,000 to $10 million to fund infrastructure projects and invigorate growth in the Mid West.

For this third round of funding, applicants classified as “remote” and “very remote” will only contribute one dollar for every three NSRF dollars.

Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price said applicants will receive the best outcome if they focus on three major points:

• Demonstrating the economic benefit of the project beyond the period of construction;
• Identification of the region’s comparative disadvantages; and
• Ensuring the leveraged funds are confirmed

The window for posting applications to the NSRF will close on Tuesday 15 March 2016, and potential applicants are being urged to submit their applications early to avoid lodging errors which may be encountered as the deadline draws closer.

The program began in 2015 and provides more than $1 billion to fund regional infrastructure across regional Australia.

See the statement by Ms Price here, and research NSRF applications here.

Sounds of the Pilbara II : Songs in Language

Posted: October 6th, 2015

Filed under: Indigenous languages, Indigenous Music, Pilbara, WAM, Wangka Maya

At the Warajanga Cultural Evening in South Hedland last week, the Sounds of The Pilbara II: Songs in Language was previewed. This is the latest compilation produced by West Australian Music (WAM) as part of their Sounds of series.

The Sounds of the Pilbara II showcases five Indigenous languages from WA’s Pilbara region which include Nyiyaparli, Nyangumarta, Nyamal, Ngarluma and Kurrama.

The songs in the compilation CD are performed by Indigenous people from the Pilbara and it features a range of original songs and sung stories which include inspiring tales and fables passed on through generations. There are 26 tracks in the CD which were recorded in a temporary studio in South Hedland by 14 contributing vocalists.

WAM worked closely with Pilbara Indigenous language linguists from Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Centre to produce this CD. The aim of this production is to preserve the traditional Indigenous languages found throughout the Pilbara. The CD will also be used as a tool to raise the public’s recognition and appreciation of the Indigenous languages. WAM also partnered with the traditional owners from the Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation to produce the compilation.

You can listen to the Sounds of The Pilbara: Songs in Language here. Copies are also available from Wangka Maya in South Hedland or limited copies from WAM.

Yule River 2015 – Aboriginal community demand answers from WA Government

Posted: September 30th, 2015

Filed under: Aboriginal Heritage Act, Bush Meeting, Pilbara Region, Western Austalian Indigeneous affairs, Yamatji Region News, YMAC, Yule River

Friday 25 September saw over 300 people gather at Yule River, a traditional meeting place in the Pilbara to voice their anger and outrage over the WA Government’s Aboriginal Heritage Act Amendment Bill and the Regional Services Reform plan, which focuses on assessing the sustainability of Aboriginal communities across Western Australia.

To Find out More Click Below:

Aboriginal community demand answers from WA Government

Cultural Awareness and the local context Forum

Posted: September 25th, 2015

A forum on Cultural Awareness and the local context will be held on Monday 28 September 2015 at Lotteries House in South Hedland. Hosted by the Town of Port Hedland the forum will address any issue of concerns of the Aboriginal community.

The forum is open to all members of the Aboriginal community so that those with relevant knowledge or interest can attend and ensure that the forum focuses on an issue that is applicable to them. Also invited are representatives from relevant agencies and organisations who may be able to assist community members and add value to the discussions. If you are interested to attend and participate in the discussions,  RSVP to admincd@porthedland.wa.gov.au

Warajanga Cultural Evening

Posted: September 21st, 2015

Filed under: Aboriginal Culture, Community Events, Culture, Pilbara REgion News, YMAC Member's News

Celebrate the culture of the Pilbara at the Warajanga Cultural Evening. On Wednesday, 23 September from 4.30pm to 8.30pm the evening will host artists as well as showcase traditional dancing, local musicians, stalls and food. The evening will be held at the South Hedland Town Square.

The 1946 Pilbara Strike featured in ABC Northwest News Article

Posted: September 8th, 2015

Filed under: 20 years of YMAC, ABC, Pilbara, Pilbara activists, Pilbara strike, YMAC

In a recent article by ABC Northwest WA, the 1946 Pilbara Strike was featured. Aboriginal pastoral workers in the Pilbara walked off their jobs against the oppressive work conditions they were facing.

In our Celebrating 20 Years of YMAC, the story of the 1946 strike was shared in the Aboriginal Leadership chapter. The 1946 strike was the first strike by the Aboriginal People and the longest in Australian History.

The reason behind the strike was in protest to the low pay, or in some instances rations instead of pay. The strike was planned by about 200 elders from 23 different groups and more than 800 workers left stations. Some were forced to return to work while others formed new occupations. Many of them formed strike camps and gathered bush tucker, skins and engaged in mining activities to provide food and money for the people there.

Two of the key leaders in the movement were Ernie Mitchell and Peter Coppin. During the course of the strike, they re-gained the lease of the Yandeyarra Station in 1967 and set up an Aboriginal-run community and a community and pastoral enterprise.

YMAC’s Co-Chair Doris Eaton and Deputy Regional Manager Nyaparu Rose are the daughters of Ernie Mitchell and Peter Coppin. This tangible connection provides YMAC with a strong connection to the history of social justice and leadership.

PKKP Native Title Determination Video

Posted: September 2nd, 2015

Filed under: Native Title Determination, PKKP, Puutu Kunti Kurrama Pinikura (PKKP), Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, YMAC

In September 2015, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) peoples celebrated the legal recognition of their native title rights. This video documents these moments and some of the lives the decision has influenced.

After 14 years, the government of Australia has recognised what the PKKP peoples have always known.