Western Australian Indigenous Affairs

Join World Rallies this Friday to Stop the Community Closures

Posted: April 29th, 2015

Filed under: Community closures, Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Premier Barnett, protests, rallies, SOS Blak Australia, WA State Government

This Friday, 1 May, communities are joining together in protest against the Barnett Government’s forced closure of Aboriginal Communities.

This marks the second wave of rallies organised by the group SOS Blak Australia. The protests will occur world-wide including in Los Angeles, London, Berlin and Christchurch, as well as all Australian capital cities.

Rallies will take place in Perth and regional Western Australia, including Roebourne, Newman, Port Hedland and Geraldton.

The State Government announced in November 2014 that it intended to close up to 150 Aboriginal Communities in Western Australia. Five months later, the Government has still not engaged in discussion with Aboriginal people on this issue.

The Barnett Government has not identified the location of Communities under threat of closure and has not identified what will happen to those who live in the Communities following the closure.

To view the complete list of planned action visit SOSBlakAustralia.

Black Diggers (Theatre) – Perth Arts Festival

Posted: January 14th, 2015

Filed under: Aboriginal Arts, Aboriginal Stories, Perth Arts Festival, Theatre

Black Diggers comes to Perth for the Perth Arts Festival following a successful seasons in Sydney and Brisbane.

Described as witty, moving and enlightening Black Diggers highlights the lives of Aboriginal soldiers who fought on in WWI and their experiences of discrimination upon returning home. The play draws on interviews with families of soldiers, veterans, historian and academics.

Black Diggers will run from 3-7 March 2015. For more information or to purchase tickets click here to visit the Perth Arts Festival website.

Tertiary scholarship opportunity

Posted: January 7th, 2015

Filed under: Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF), BHP Billiton, Indigenous Scholarships.

The Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF)-BHP Billiton Tertiary Scholarship is awarded to outstanding Indigenous students undertaking engineering and other mining-related degrees, who aspire to work for BHP Billiton and to one day become leaders in the business.

The scholarship is an opportunity to learn from experts, develop a global network of colleagues, attend world class training, and build exceptional skills and expertise.

Applications for 2015 are now open. For more information, download the Scholarship Application Form or contact AIEF on (02) 8373 8000 or at applications@aief.com.au.

Applications close at 5:00pm on Sunday, 1 February 2015. 

Geraldton goes Wajarri

Posted: November 17th, 2014

Filed under: City of Greater Geraldton, language, spaced, Wajarri

Berlin-based artist Pia Lanzinger has developed a project called Geraldton goes Wajarri, as part of a larger program by Perth-based arts organization Spaced. Geraldton goes Wajarri  is designed to provide a forum for the conservation of this language by smuggling Wajarri into the public spaces of the City of Greater Geraldton (Jambinu). 

Although Amangu is the traditional language of the area, today Wajarri is the most commonly spoken Aboriginal language in the Greater Geraldton region of Western Australia.

The launch of Geraldton goes Wajarri, including “adopt a word” will be held this Thursday 20th November, 6 – 7:30pm at the Geraldton Regional Library.

For more information visit http://www.spaced.org.au/projects/pia-lanzinger/

Registrations Now Open for the WA Heritage Festival

Posted: November 6th, 2014

Filed under: Celebrating Culture, Heritage, National Trust, Western Australian Heritage Festival

The Western Australian Heritage Festival, run by the National Trust is WA’s biggest heritage festival celebrates Australia’s diverse Aboriginal, natural and historic historic through talks, tours, exhibitions and events across Western Australia.

In 2014 the festival attracted over 90,000 people with 169 registered events registered in cities and towns across the state. With a corresponding festival in each state and territory there were over 1,500 events nationwide.

The Western Australian Heritage Festival 2015 will run from 18 April – 18 May. For more information or to register your event visit the Festival website www.nationaltrustfestival.org.au

Petition Deadline Extended

Posted: November 4th, 2014

Filed under: Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA), Department of Aboriginal Affairs, heritage protection, Petition, WA Government, wapol

With over 1200 signatures already received, we need your support now! Please circulate our petition to your network and return all original copies by 19 November 2014.

As you know, the WA Government has released proposed amendments to the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. YMAC is extremely concerned about these proposed changes as they appear to be aimed at speeding up the approvals process for developers and industry, and do very little to improve the protection for Aboriginal heritage.

The legislation in its current form is not acceptable. It must reflect a modern view. It must be consistent with similar legislation, Australia-wide. It is time to stand united, and speak with one voice until Aboriginal heritage is given the same respect as Built heritage.  For more information click here.

Download the petition

Recognition in Western Australia’s constitution too

Posted: October 21st, 2014

Filed under: Constitutional recognition, Josie Farrer, Parliament, Recognise

Apart from the much better known conversation about recognition of Aboriginal peoples in the Federal constitution (see our previous blog post), YMAC is pleased to see that the State opposition has also recently begun to push for similar recognition in the Western Australian constitution as well.

And it has only just come to our attention that they are seeking comments on their suggested changes by this Friday, 24 October!

On Wednesday 11 June 2014, Labor member for the State seat of Kimberley, Josie Farrer MLA, first spoke in Parliament about the Constitution Amendment (Recognition of Aboriginal People) Bill 2014 she introduced. It was an amazing speech, click here.

Ms Farrer, a Gidja woman from east Kimberley, has introduced a Bill that is quite simple, because the WA constitution in many ways needs less fixing than the Federal one. There are important symbolic things that need to be changed. Find out more about the Bill and the reasons for the suggested changes Opposition Leader, Mark McGowan’s website, or call YMAC policy officer Cameron Poustie on 08 9268 7000.

WA really needs to get moving on this – every other mainland Australian state has changed its state constitution to recognises Aboriginal peoples. Please consider writing to Ms Farrer, even with just a short message of support, by email to her staff person at Ms Mala Croft at mala.croft@mp.wa.gov.au .

Investing in Country and Culture Panel Discussion

Posted: October 2nd, 2014

Filed under: Country, Culture, FIDIO, YMAC

Today the Forum for Independent Directors and Officers of Indigenous Organisations (FIDIO) will be hosting a panel discussion on Investing in Country and Culture.

The panel will explore a range of case studies to demonstrate the benefits of early investment in cultural and land management projects, particularly in relations to  agreement-making and generating new opportunities for community investment, employment and enterprise development on country.

The panel will include;
Paul Stenson, CEO, Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation
Scott Chisolm, Director, Terra Rosa Cultural Resource Management
Kate Holloman, Lawyer, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation

Date: Thursday 2 October
Time: 4.00pm – 6.00pm
Venue: Jackson McDonald, St George’s Square,  Level 17, 225 St Georges Tce, Perth

To book your place at the event click here.

For more information on FIDIO visit their website www.fidio.com.au

Will you join us?

Posted: September 24th, 2014

Filed under: Aboriginal Heritage Act, Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Yule River

The State Government’s proposed changes to the Aboriginal Heritage Act will lead to even weaker protection for Aboriginal heritage sites than we have now. Join us this Friday 26 September to show the State that Aboriginal people care about their heritage and need to have a say in what happens to it.

All Aboriginal people from WA are invited to attend an on-Country meeting at the traditional Yule River meeting place (55kms south of Port Hedland) at 11 am this Friday to discuss the proposed changes. You will have a chance to ask questions, and listen to speakers ranging from respected elders to academics and politicians.

Click here for more information about the meeting and about the issues.