The Federal Government’s commitment to funding Indigenous ranger programs is a great acknowledgement of Traditional Owners’ instrumental role in the conservation and management of Australia’s natural resources.
YMAC is really happy to see certainty for another 7 years, provided to Indigenous rangers who look after nearly 50 percent of Australia’s protected areas. This is an excellent result for existing programs such as the Nyangumarta Ranger and Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) program, now in its fifth year of operation.
In future we hope to see funding available for new projects.
In March 2019 the High Court of Australia made its first Native Title compensation decision.
There are many important issues to consider before filing a Native Title compensation claim including whether there are alternatives.
To assist PBCs and Native Title Holders to navigate this complex area, the National Native Title Council (NNTC) in conjunction with YMAC will be running an information workshop.
The workshop will be open to existing Prescribed Bodies Corporates (PBC) and Native Title claim groups where the Federal Court of Australia has set down their claim for a consent determination.
This first information workshop will be held at Gwoonwardu Mia located at 146 Robinson Street, Carnarvon.
To ensure everyone can participate, attendance numbers are limited to 2 people from each PBC Board and Native Title group.
To confirm who will be attending from your group, please contact Renae Jory at Rjory@ymac.org.auto register who your two representatives will be, and to make the necessary travel and accommodation arrangements by Wednesday, 18 March 2020.
Water Corporation is calling for Expressions Of Interest (EOI) from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to create pieces of art that reflect the importance of water and its connection to the community.
If selected, your artwork could be adapted to be used on Water Corp vehicles, buildings, uniforms, publications, websites and more.
To submit an EOI you must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and a resident of Western Australia. You have until Friday 6 March to submit your interest.
Western Australians are invited to have their say on initiatives to support improved management of the State’s native vegetation.
The Native Vegetation in Western Australia issues paper proposes four initiatives aimed at providing better protection for vegetation where it is most needed and help streamline assessment processes:
a State Native Vegetation Policy
better information, including mapping and monitoring
improved regulatory processes
a regionally-tailored approach
There are two other ways we can provide comments and feedback:
You have until 10 February to provide feedback on the issues paper.
The consultation feedback will inform a draft policy, which is set to be released in April 2020 for further public comment. The final policy is due to be completed mid-2020.
Aboriginal people are encouraged to contribute to a new discussion paper to help shape the State’s long-term plan to improve social, economic, health and cultural outcomes.
A Path Forward: Developing the Western Australian Government’s Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy, is now open for public comment until 28 February 2020.
The discussion paper takes a whole of government approach and outlines measures to strengthen co-ordination, co-operation and accountability. This will make it easier to see where progress is being made and where Government needs to direct more effort.
6 December marks another 25 year anniversary for YMAC.
In 1994, then named Yamatji Barna Baba Maaja Aboriginal Corporation (YBBMAC), the organisation achieved full Native Title Representative Body (NTRB) status under the Native Title Act (1993), initially to the Geraldton (Yamatji) region.
Achieving this status enabled YBBMAC to manage claims in the Geraldton representative area and established the organisation’s main objective for the next 25 years. In that time YMAC has achieved 26 native title determinations with Traditional Owners.
While our focus remains on achieving native title, YMAC’s services have grown to meet the changing needs of the Traditional Owners we work with. We now also offer a range of services that support Aboriginal Corporations to reach their own milestones in caring for Country and supporting their communities.
YMAC looks forward to the next phase of our partnerships with Traditional Owners throughout the Yamatji and Marlpa regions of WA.
Pilbara women are invited to contribute to the Pilbara Aboriginal Women’s Forum draft report that addresses issues such as housing, culture and language, health and more.
The consultation is being held by Senator Sue Lines on Wednesday, 11 December at the Ngurin Cultural Centre, 31 Roe Street, Ieramugadu (Roebourne). Please arrive at 9:30am for a 10am start until 2pm.
A bus will be organised to pick participants up in South Hedland on the morning of the forum and returning in the afternoon. If you would like to put your name down for a seat on the bus please email emma.shearing@aph.gov.au
If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute to the draft, please send any amendments/comments to susan.sutherland@aph.gov.au
Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) wishes to congratulate Pilbara Aboriginal Voice (Kakurrka Muri) (PAV) Co-Chairs, Danny Brown and Linda Dridi, on their recently announced appointments to the Western Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council (WAAAC).
The WAAAC is a statutory board under the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972, and will play a key role in working with the State Government on priorities, including the development of an Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy, Closing the Gap, Aboriginal youth suicide and reducing incarceration of Aboriginal people in custody.
Both Danny and Linda have been working with the other interim members of this group since February of this year, advising the State Government on how it can better engage with Aboriginal communities to ensure their voices are heard when it comes to decisions being made that affect them, developing a Terms of Reference and suitable structure to achieve its objectives.
YMAC commends the PAV Co-Chairs for their work to-date representing the Pilbara region at this level, and looks forward to continuing to support them in our capacity as acting secretariat for PAV to see the positive outcomes they accomplish in future as members of the WAAAC.
The 5th Annual On-Country Bush Meeting at Yule River was another extraordinary gathering bringing together more than 400 Traditional Owners from across the Pilbara to discuss issues affecting them and their families. The meeting endorsed Pilbara Aboriginal Voice (PAV), the remarkable group borne out of the 4th meeting in 2017. PAV has made significant progress working together to address issues including language preservation, remote housing, the protection of Aboriginal heritage, Constitutional Recognition, health, education, justice, and the welfare of children.
This year, the 40-strong group welcomed more than 20 new members, and was officially endorsed and recognised by both Federal and State Aboriginal Affairs Ministers Ben Wyatt and Senator Nigel Scullion and others. PAV was acknowledged as an historic union of language groups working as one voice to call on all levels of government to improve living conditions for Aboriginal West Australians.
Today and every day, we recognise Aboriginal Elder, our Deputy Co-Chairperson, Mrs Doris Eaton, for her ongoing inspirational leadership, and great vision for the Pilbara, our Aboriginal Directors, and our dedicated YMAC staff, for their contributions to the Yule River meeting.
For more information about Yule River meetings and their history, please see https://lnkd.in/gEbB4J2
Country is our mother, the provider and keeper of cultural belongings. Country and Culture go together. You can’t have one without the other.
Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians throughout Western Australia, and on whose Country we work. We acknowledge and respect their deep connection to their lands and waterways.
We honour and pay respect to Elders, and to their ancestors who survived and cared for Country.
Our offices are located on Whadjuk Country, Southern Yamatji Country, Kariyarra Country, and Yawuru Country. We recognise the continuing culture, traditions, stories and living cultures on these lands and commit to building a brighter future together.
Disclaimer: Caution: Please be advised that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased people.
