Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation

Feb1 2013

New Children’s Book from West Australian Indigenous Artist

Posted: February 1st, 2013

Filed under: Indigenous Arts, Indigenous Books, Indigenous Culture, Magabala Books, Norma MacDonald Spinifex Mouse, Nyungar, Yamatji.

West Australian artist Norma MacDonald will release her new illustrated children’s book next month through Indigenous publishing house, Magabala Books.

Spinifex Mouse is the tale of a cheeky, spinifex-hopping mouse who lives in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Written and Illustrated by Ms MacDonald, the book will be available from February 2013 in bookshops across Australia and online from Magabala Books, www.magabala.com

Magabala Books is a not-for-profit publishing house based in Broome that aims to promote, preserve and publish Indigenous Australian culture.

Norma MacDonald descends from both the Yamatji and Nyungar people of Western Australia. Spinifex Mouse follows on from her 2011 success, Stolen Girl, also published through Magabala Books.

Jan30 2013

Protection of Aboriginal Culture through Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park

Posted: January 30th, 2013

Filed under: Aboriginal cultural heritage., Department of Environment and Conservation, Eighty Mile Beach, Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park, Karajarri, Ngarla, Nyangumarta, Pilbara

A new marine park created to protect the natural and cultural values of the Pilbara’s Eighty Mile Beach will for the first time in Western Australia include special recognition for sites of high Aboriginal cultural significance.

The Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park is the result of collaborative efforts between the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and Indigenous Traditional Owners who have worked together to ensure the protection of Aboriginal heritage in Western Australia.

The marine park will be jointly managed between DEC and Karajarri, Nyangumarta and Ngarla Traditional Owners, and will include special ‘cultural heritage’ zones acknowledging the existence of cultural values in the area.

Click here to read the full Ministerial media statement.

Click to Enlarge

Jan25 2013

Give your thoughts on Native Title Reform

Posted: January 25th, 2013

Filed under: Native Title Act, Native Title Reform Bill 2012

The Federal Government is seeking feedback on the proposed amendments to the Native Title Act. The Native Title Amendment Bill 2012 reforms three areas of the Native Title Act:

it clarifies the meaning of ‘good faith’ and makes amendments to the ‘right to negotiate’;
it allows parties to agree to set aside historical extinguishment in parks and environmental reserves;
and it makes some changes to the scope and processes for voluntary ILUAs.

Written submisions are due by 31 January, and should address the proposals for reforms and whether a balance has been struck between the views of different stakeholders.

For more information and to make your submission, go to www.aph.gov.au/nativetitle

Jan22 2013

Grants for Women Program 2013

Posted: January 22nd, 2013

Filed under: community grants, Department of Communities, Grants for Women program, Indigenous Women

The Department of Communities is currently seeking applications for its ‘Grants for Women’ program 2013.

The program will provide grants of up to $5,000 to eligible groups and organisations which seek to strengthen the health and wellbeing, economic security, leadership and safety of women in both the home and community.

Click here for guidelines and eligibility requirements, and visit the Department of Communities Website to access an application form.

Applications for 2013 will close 5:00pm on Friday, 8 March 2013.

Fore more information, contact the Grants and Contacts Officer on (08) 6551 8700 or email grants@communities.wa.gov.au

Jan15 2013

Applications for Mid West Art Prize 2013 Still Open

Posted: January 15th, 2013

Filed under: City of Greater Geraldton, Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, Indigenous Arts, Mid West art Prize 2013, Yamaji Art

Applications for entry into the 2013 Mid West Art Prize are still open to all artists throughout Western Australia.

This will be the third year the Mid West Art Prize takes place, with the exhibition scheduled to open at the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery on Saturday 2 March 2013.

There will be a total of $45,00 in non-acquisitive awards presented across seven award categories. Application forms are available from the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, or can be downloaded from their website.

Yamaji Arts manager Allison Yearwood has wished all artists of the region good luck, and any new indigenous artists that would like assistance in setting up their profile can contact the centre via the Yamaji Art Website, or on (08) 9965 3440.

For more details about the Mid West Art Prize 2013, please contact the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery on 9964 7170 or email grag@artgallery.wa.gov.au

Entries close 4pm Wednesday 16 January, 2013.

www.artgallery.cgg.wa.gov.au

Dec20 2012

YMAC Christmas Shutdown and Heritage Surveys

Posted: December 20th, 2012

Filed under: Geraldton, Karratha, Mid West, Perth, Pilbara, South Hedland, Tom Price., YMAC, YMAC Board of Directors, YMAC Christmas Shutdown

For many Aboriginal Communities in the Midwest and Pilbara, December to January is a special time of year to observe cultural obligations and practices.

Out of respect for these traditions, YMAC will not be conducting any heritage surveys between Monday 17 December 2012 and Friday 1 February 2013.

Any heritage survey requests received after 17 December will be scheduled to commence after 1 February.

Thank you for your understanding.

All YMAC offices in Perth, Geraldton, Karratha, South Hedland and Tom Price will be closed during the festive season from Thursday 20th December 2012, re-opening on Wednesday 2 January 2013.

YMAC’s Board of Directors, Pilbara and Yamatji Regional Committees, Management and Staff would like to wish you a happy and safe festive season.

Dec20 2012

Ngarlawangga People and Montezuma Sign Agreement South of Newman

Posted: December 20th, 2012

Filed under: Aboriginal Heritage Act, Butcherbird manganese project, Montezuma, Newman, Ngarlawangga, Simon Hawkins, YMAC

The Ngarlawangga native title group today announced the signing of an agreement with Montezuma Mining Company Ltd (Montezuma) for the Butcherbird manganese project over 23,000 hectares of their traditional country, south of Newman, as well as consents to future mining in the area.

The agreement has seen Traditional Owners and Montezuma develop a framework for how they will continue working with each other, including assisting Ngarlawangga people into employment, agreed processes and timeframes by which heritage clearances will take place and support for tendering for new contracts for community businesses.

The signing includes an agreed process should the mining company apply for permission to disturb heritage sites, which provides both parties with a guaranteed consultation process under the Aboriginal Heritage Act (WA).

Ngarlawangga Traditional Owner Dianne Limerick said, “The discussions with Montezuma went well – we’re now hoping for jobs and business contracts to develop from this agreement.”

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) CEO Simon Hawkins said, “Montezuma listened and responded to the community’s needs throughout the process. In turn, the Ngarlawangga people were able to reach agreement quickly, giving the company certainty. Both parties are particularly focused on supporting new and existing Ngarlawangga contracting companies to benefit from this project, including incentives for community businesses”.

Click here to read the full media release.

Dec12 2012

41,000 year-old Pilbara Aboriginal Site to be Protected

Posted: December 12th, 2012

Filed under: Archae-aus, Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), Heritage, Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation, Nyiyaparli, Pilbara, Rock Art, YMAC

Photo Courtesy of Fortescue Metals Group

Nyiyaparli Traditional Owners from the Pilbara region of Western Australia, today announced the oldest occupation dates ever found in the region. Working with archaeologists from the heritage company Archae-aus, the Nyiyaparli Heritage Sub-Committee and Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation have revealed that charcoals found while excavating a rock shelter are more than 41,000 years old, according to carbon-dating analysis.

Nyiyaparli elder and Heritage Sub-Committee member David Stock said, “We feel proud that this evidence of our ancestors has been found and are happy it will be protected. This kind of work shows Australians that our heritage is very important and that it can be protected”.

Nyiyaparli elder and Heritage Sub-Committee member Gordon Yuline said “We have to keep the caves to show the young people how the old people used to live. It is very important we protect these places and we are able to go there and teach the young ones.”

The shelter site would be protected by a buffer zone and that Nyiyaparli Traditional Owners have requested further research be carried out at the important site.

Click here to read the full media release.

Dec5 2012

New Opportunities for Indigenous Students to Become Lawyers

Posted: December 5th, 2012

Filed under: Advanced Diploma in Indigenous Legal Studies, Indigenous Careers, Indigenous Education, Indigenous Employment and Training, Indigenous Law, Indigenous Scholarships., University of Western Australia

The University of Western Australia is now offering a one-year course to mature age Aboriginal students which will provide them with direct entry into a new post-graduate law degree at UWA.

Starting in 2013, the Advanced Diploma in Indigenous Legal Studies has been devised by UWA’s School of Indigenous Studies and the Faculty of Law to ensure that Indigenous people have equality of opportunity to succeed in mainstream law and engage with the legal isssues affecting Aboriginal people.

The Diploma provides students with both the theoretical and practical training needed to pursue a legal career in Australia, with the chance to obtain scholarships and financial assistance from some of Western Australia’s most prestigious law firms and government departments.

For eligibility and requirements, please visit the UWA website, or contact Mel Thomas at mel.thomas@uwa.edu.au for further information.

Posts By: Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation