YMAC

WA Biodiscovery Bill information sessions

Posted: May 2nd, 2023

The State Government’s Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation is developing new biodiscovery legislation for Western Australia and holding information sessions across the State during May.

The Biodiscovery Bill will set out processes to ensure that, if Traditional Knowledge associated with a genetic resource has been shared with a researcher, the benefits are shared with the Traditional Knowledge custodians on mutually agreed terms.

The information sessions will detail recommendations from the first consultation phase in 2022 and a proposed model for the Bill. Dates and location are as follows:

• Broome: 10am-2pm, Friday, 12 May
• Kununurra: 10am-2pm, Monday, 15 May
• Albany: 10am-2pm, Monday, 22 May
• Port Hedland: 10am-2pm, Wednesday, 24 May
• Kalgoorlie: 10am-2pm, Friday, 26 May
• Geraldton: 10am-2pm, Monday, 29 May
• Perth: 1pm-5pm, Wednesday, 31 May

The sessions will be facilitated by Roanna Edwards from PricewaterhouseCoopers Indigenous Consulting. Register your place here and learn more at the WA Biodiscovery Bill website.

While the department is unable to pay sitting fees for attendance, it may be able to provide support for Traditional Owners to travel to attend a workshop. Email biodiscovery@jtsi.wa.gov.au or call (08) 6277 3000 to discuss.

Up to $60,000 grants available for Aboriginal arts

Posted: May 1st, 2023

The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries is offering grants between $15,000 and $60,000 for Aboriginal artists, creative industry professionals and organisations to deliver one-off projects or a single program of activity.

Applications for the Arts 15k-plus grant program should meet one or more of the following objectives:

• promoting or facilitating greater engagement of Aboriginal communities in the arts
• encouraging the expression of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal culture, individuality, spirituality and empowerment through the arts
• encouraging the involvement of Aboriginal arts expertise, skills, knowledge and resources
• supporting long-term skills development goals for Aboriginal artists, arts workers and communities
• supporting Aboriginal cultural maintenance
• delivering artistic and social outcomes for Aboriginal communities through the arts.

Read more about the guidelines. Applications close 4pm, 1 June, for events or projects starting 1 September 2023.

AEC launches Referendum Disinformation Register

Posted: April 28th, 2023

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has launched a Referendum Disinformation Register to help stop mistruths spreading about referendum processes, in relation to the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

As part of this, the AEC has made it clear it is not fact-checking claims about the Yes or No case for a referendum, nor is it seeking to censor debate in any way – the register is about the processes surrounding how the referendum works.

“The message here is simple,” Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said. “The AEC will not tolerate the spread of mistruths about our referendum processes, no matter the source.

“While we’ll be active in communicating about referendum processes, it’s up to voters to stop and consider information they see, hear or read from ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns.

“The Australian vote belongs to all Australians and there is freedom of political communication. However, if you spread incorrect information about the process we run – deliberately or otherwise – we will correct you.”

The register also includes a section to help readers identify tactics used to spread electoral disinformation.

National Indigenous Carbon Forum

Posted: April 3rd, 2023

The Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN) is holding the second annual National Indigenous Carbon Forum on Yugambeh Country (Gold Coast, Queensland) from 16 to 18 May.

The 2023 forum is a hybrid event, held both in-person and online. With a strong emphasis on Indigenous-led discussions, it features presentations from First Nations rangers and land managers to scientists, policy-makers, market specialists and others in the industry.

“It’s really important that we, as First Nations people, build strategic partnerships with people and organisations that want to see us succeed,” ICIN Co-Chair Cissy Gore-Birch said.

“This is a growing industry and, as traditional leaders of this country, we want to take advantage of these opportunities. We can see that the carbon industry has really benefited our people in moving forward. We want to work with strategic partners to continue to improve and keep evolving and keeping up with the times but also making sure that the traditional knowledge is not missed.”

Find out more about what’s on offer over the three days.

Reach a peak at First Nations women’s summit

Posted: March 17th, 2023

Registrations are now open for the inaugural Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) First Nations Women and Girls National Summit.

Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission, the summit is being held at the National Convention Centre on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country (Canberra) from 9-11 May (with a youth forum on 8 May).

General registrations are for First Nations women only (including those who identify as cis, trans and non-binary) while the youth forum is for First Nations women aged 18 to 30.

Several funded places are available for First Nations women over 18 to attend the entire summit, funded by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Complete the application form.

Register for the summit – for enquiries, email wiyiyani.uthangani@humanrights.gov.au.

Share in $10 million of regional grant funding

Posted: March 14th, 2023

Qantas is inviting regional community groups across Australia to apply for a share of $10 million over five years as part of its regional grants program.

The grants – which include a combination of flights, cash and marketing support – are open to individuals, not-for-profit community groups and organisations of any size that are seeking funding to help enhance the lives of people in regional communities.

Funding is available for First Nations programs, youth, schools and education, children and family, sustainability, natural disaster recovery, tourism and heritage, research, health and wellbeing, human services, agriculture and farming, sports and recreation, and the arts and screen industry.

Applications close 10 May – visit the Qantas website for more details.

$7 million in grants for community environmental projects

Posted: March 8th, 2023

The State Government is offering $7 million for community land and water conservation initiatives through its 2023 Community Stewardship Grants program.

First Nations organisations, schools, natural resource management (NRM) groups, local governments, community resource centres and recognised biosecurity groups can apply.

Small grants between $1000 and $50,000 are available for short-term projects and large grants from $50,000 to $450,000 are on offer for longer term activities.

Examples of eligible activities include capturing or implementing Traditional Knowledge of Country, dealing with invasive species, sustainable or regenerative agriculture, remnant vegetation protection, revegetation, threatened species protection, data collection, information sharing, planning, research, technical advice, infrastructure and training and skills development.

Applications close midday, 1 May – visit the State Government’s grant information page for details.

NNTC online seminar on the Voice to Parliament – register now!

Posted: February 27th, 2023

On Thursday, 2 March 2023 [10am-11.30am (AWST)], the National Native Title Council (NNTC) is hosting an online seminar about the Voice to Parliament for native title holders.

The seminar is intended to provide information by way of an expert panel of First Nations peoples about the Voice to Parliament and address some of the confusion and uncertainty attendees may be feeling. The panellists will include:

• Jamie Lowe
• Tony McAvoy SC
• Dr Hannah McGlade
• Dr Eddie Cubillo
• Rachel Perkins
• Clinton Benjamin

To learn more about the seminar and panellists, please visit the NNTC website or contact the NNTC.

To register for this seminar, please follow the instructions here. Note: registrations close Tuesday, 28 February 2023.

YMAC employee appointed to DWER advisory group

Posted: February 14th, 2023

Congratulations to YMAC Land and Sea Management Project Coordinator Marika Oakley, who has been appointed as a regional representative on the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s (DWER) Aboriginal Water and Environment Advisory Group.

Established in 2018, the group was designed to ensure First Nations knowledge, values and needs are considered and addressed across DWER strategies, programs and planning when managing WA’s environment and water resources.

The group comprises 14 First Nations members covering the Kimberley, Pilbara, Great Sandy Desert, Goldfields-Esperance, South West and Perth with Marika – based in YMAC’s Geraldton office – representing the Gascoyne-Mid West region.

Marika’s insight and knowledge, delivered from a First Nations perspective, will make a valuable contribution. She previously worked as a Malgana ranger for two years and has a certificate III in conservation and land management and certificate IV in bush and western herbal medicine. Marika was also the inaugural chair of Malgana Aboriginal Corporation (MAC), following a native title determination in 2018.

“I have always been interested in conservation and looking after Country and my people,” Marika said.

YMAC’s Land and Sea Management unit works on research and development for new ranger projects and Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs); Healthy Country Planning (strategic planning for cultural and natural heritage); advice on environmental matters; funding applications; and sustainable financing.

The unit also provides project management for ranger and IPA projects; advice and support for joint management, training and capacity-building for senior staff and rangers; advice on Indigenous Land Use Agreement negotiations that cover ranger; fee-for-service and governance structures; and support for groups in creating new jointly vested and managed reserves with the State Government.

The flagship Nyangumarta rangers program operates with support from YMAC’s Land and Sea Management unit, in collaboration with the Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation.

Marika Oakley, centre bottom row, during her time as a Malgana ranger.