National Indigenous Affairs

Pilbara groups reach agreement with Rio Tinto

Posted: June 2nd, 2011

Filed under: agreement, Kuruma Marthudunera, Rio, Yamatji.

Centre: Neil Finlay, Kuruma Marthudunera elder, and family at agreement signing.

Four Pilbara native title claim groups have announced they have signed Australia’s most comprehensive native title agreements with Rio Tinto.

The agreements are a result of seven years of extensive negotiations between the four groups, represented by Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC), and the Rio Tinto Iron Ore group.

The final agreements give Rio Tinto certainty for its existing and future operations in the areas covered by the four native title claim groups;

• Nyiyaparli
• Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura
• Kuruma and Marthudunera
• Ngarlawangga (northern part of claim area).

The total area involved in the agreement is about 70,000 square kilometres and includes existing mining operations at Brockman 4, Mesa A, Mesa J, Hope Downs, as well as any future Rio Tinto mines and operations in the native title claim areas.

Under the agreement, the four native title claim groups have negotiated a range of economic and non-economic benefits. These include an income stream from mining on their lands, training and job opportunities, access to contracts for services for Rio Tinto and support for environmental and heritage activities. The agreement also includes mining exclusion zones that recognise the importance of significant sites such as burial and ceremonial sites, as well as important water holes and ecologically sensitive areas.

YMAC’s Chief Executive Officer, Simon Hawkins, said the four Aboriginal groups had worked tirelessly to reach agreement with Rio Tinto.

“The signing of these agreements is recognition of the professional way in which the parties have been able to work together to get the best outcomes,” he said.

“Through the negotiations, the native title groups now have an established relationship with Rio Tinto that they can build on for their future.

“The real work starts now to implement the agreements and ensure the native title claim groups benefit from their commitment,” he said.

Mr Hawkins said rigorous corporate governance and benefit management structures were being put in place to underpin the implementation of the agreements. This includes the establishment of four local Aboriginal corporations to manage the agreements for each group and a broader regional corporation to implement seven regional standards relating to Rio’s operations.

Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAS) will be signed later this year between the four native title groups, Rio Tinto and the state government, with on-country celebrations planned for later in the year.

National Sorry Day

Posted: May 26th, 2011

Filed under: National Reconciliation Week, National Sorry Day

Today is ‘National Sorry Day’, an event held each year on 26 May to express regret over the historical mistreatment of Aboriginal people. The day was chosen in commemoration of the Bringing Them Home report being handed to the federal government on 26 May 1997.

From 27 May till 3 June its also National Reconciliation Week (NRW), which celebrates the rich culture and history of the First Australians.

For more information on this event, visit: http://www.reconciliation.org.au/home

Geraldton community to have their say about constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Posted: May 19th, 2011

Filed under: Constitutional recognition, FAHCSIA, Geraldton

To address the issue of constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,the Australian Government has appointed an expert panel, co-chaired by Professor Patrick Dodson and Mr Mark Leibler AC.

The panel is undertaking a broad national consultation program to seek views from across the Australian community about ideas for recognising Indigenous Australians in our nation’s Constitution.

Mr Fred Chaney and Mr Bill Lawson will be holding a public consultation in Geraldton on Wednesday 25 May 2011 12:30pm at 2:30pm at the Ocean Centre Hotel in Geraldton.

This event offers an opportunity for the Geraldton community to join this important national conversation, to hear about the work of the Expert Panel and more importantly to offer their views and ideas about Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Australians.

To learn more about the national discussion on constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, check out the You Me Unity website. To learn more about the expert panel click here.

For more information about the public consultation in Geraldton or to RSVP to the event call  (02) 6219 7759 or email  James.Malar@fahcsia.gov.au

YMAC CEO in Saturday’s West Australian

Posted: April 18th, 2011

Filed under: agreement, Simon Hawkins, West Australian

Indigenous West Australians recognised at International Women’s Day Event

Posted: March 10th, 2011

Filed under: Board, Donna Murdock, Doris Eaton, International Women's Day, Margaret Rose, NATSIWA, YMAC Director

NATSIWA’s International Women’s Day Poster

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) is extremely proud that two of its staff members and one of its Board members have been honoured at an event in Adelaide marking ‘International Women’s Day.’

Mrs. Donna Murdock, Yamatji Regional Manager, Ms. Margaret Rose, Senior Community Liaison Officer and Mrs. Doris Eaton, co-chair of YMAC’s Board of Directors and 2009 NAIDOC elder of the year, have been recognised by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance (NATSIWA) for achieving change for their people and communities.

To celebrate the one hundredth International Women’s Day, NATSIWA has recognised one hundred Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have shown leadership and achieved change over the past one hundred years.

In addition to a rally in Adelaide on 10 March 2011, there is  a poster featuring some of the nominated women that will be widely distributed to schools, non-government organisations and government departments. A blog has also been created where the women will contribute to forums on issues facing Indigenous women.

Click here to access NATSIWA’s International Women’s Day website, including their blog.

Mrs. Murdock, Ms. Rose and Mrs. Eaton were all chosen because of their activism, leadership and commitment to their regional communities. They have contributed to their communities in the areas of health, education, business development, native title and traditional culture.

“It’s a great pleasure to be recognised and to be honoured among other women who have been working hard for their communities. It is really rewarding for us Indigenous women to come together from all parts of Australia and have it be recognised that yes, we are making a difference,” said Margaret Rose.

Simon Hawkins, YMAC’s Chief Executive Officer, said of the news, “It’s wonderful to see some of the hard-working, community-minded Aboriginal women of the Midwest and Pilbara regions being celebrated nationally for their achievements. YMAC congratulates Mrs. Eaton, Ms. Rose and Mrs. Murdock on their nominations, and I can say personally that it has been a huge honour to work with them over the years.”

Weld Range added to the National Heritage List

Posted: February 25th, 2011

Filed under: National Heritage List, Wajarri Yamatji, Weld Range, Wilgie Mia

Signpost – road leading to Wilgie Mia/Thuwarri Thaa, Weld Range in distance

The Weld Range is approximately sixty kilometres north-west of Cue, and is of significant cultural importance to the traditional owners of the area, the Wajarri Yamatji people, as well as neighbouring Indigenous groups.

The 45ha area of the National Heritage Listing includes Wilgie Mia, Little Wilgie Mia and the Marlu Resting Place. These sites contain sacred law grounds, dreamtime places, thousands of examples of rock art, extensive archaeological material, and the Wilgie Mia red ochre mine.

2010 Native Title and Social Justice Report

Posted: February 16th, 2011

Filed under: agreement, Australian Human Rights Commission, good faith, native title, reform, Social Justice

• the need to clarify the meaning of good faith in the Native Title Act;
• the need to improve processes for meaningful consultation with Traditional Owners about reforms to the system; and
• the need for Governments to implement the Guidelines for Best Practice in Agreement-Making, endorsed by Native Title Ministers in 2009.

Apology Day celebrations in Geraldton

Posted: February 10th, 2011

Filed under: apology, Bundiyarra, Geraldton, Radio MAMA

To celebrate the anniversary of the federal government’s apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation will be hosting a family fun day on the Geraldton foreshore on Sunday, 13 February 10:00-2:00. The alcohol free event will include free activities, entertainment, food, drinks and a live broadcast from Radio MAMA.

Streeties will be providing a free bus service and will be collecting passengers from all the usual pick-up places offered during the school holiday program. For further information contact Bundiayarra at iwrpo@bundiyarra.org.au

Pilbara Indigenous Health Services Win Commonwealth Support

Posted: February 1st, 2011

Filed under: Aboriginal health organisations, Jigalong, South Hedland

Three Aboriginal Health Centres in the Pilbara have been successful in securing grants from the federal government, the Minister for Indigenous Health announced yesterday.

The goal of the funding is to help Aboriginal Health Organisations achieve accreditation under Australian quality standards.

For the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation in Jigalong and the Pilbara Indigenous Women’s Aboriginal Corporation and Bloodwood Tree, both located in South Hedland, this means funding for things like training, office equipment, medical equipment and the accreditation fees.

YMAC congratulates these three Pilbara Aboriginal health organisations on their successful grant applications and on their ongoing work to improve the health and quality of life for the Pilbara Aboriginal community.