Western Australian Indigenous Affairs

Have your say on pastoral lease issues

Posted: October 22nd, 2013

Filed under: Carnarvon, Pastoral leases, Port Hedland, WA Parliament, WA State Government

The Standing Committee on Public Administration will hold public committee hearings for its inquiry into pastoral leases this November. The Committee will be travelling to Carnarvon for a public hearing on 5 November and to Port Hedland for a public hearing on 6 November.

The outcomes of the inquiry will impact on the way pastoral leases are administered into the future. Click here for more information and to view the inquiry’s terms of reference.

Members of the public can sit in on the hearings, but to have your say to the committee, contact Lauren Mesiti on 9222 7376 as soon as possible, as places are limited.

Launch of ‘Murru’ this Sunday in Fremantle

Posted: September 25th, 2013

Filed under: Aboriginal deaths in custody, John Pat, Murru, Roebourne

This Sunday marks 30 years since the death of 16-year-old John Pat, who died in a Roeburn prison cell in 1983.

His death prompted the State Government to instigate the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

John’s story will be honoured through the launch of ‘Murru’, an album produced by local high profile musicians together with the Roebourne community and inmates from Roebourne Regional Prison.

Proceeds from the album will go towards the memorial in John’s home town. An official launch for the album will be held this Sunday, at the Fly By Night Musicians Club in  Fremantle.

Tickets are available from www.flybynight.org or by calling 9430 5976.

  http://www.vibe.com.au/news/murru-in-memory-of-john-pat

Aboriginal writing workshop in Perth next week

Posted: June 19th, 2013

Filed under: Aboriginal writing, Indigenous Stories, Indigenous Writing Workshop, Perth Cultural Centre, State Library of WA, Yirra Yaakin

Do you have a story to tell but don’t know how to go about writing it?

The Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company will be holding a free writing workshop for the Aboriginal community next week in Perth with acclaimed author and editor, Amanda Curtin.

The workshop will be held 10am–1pm, Wednesday 26 June at the State Library of Western Australia. It is strictly limited to 25 participants, so RSVP now to reserve your place.

For more information and to register, contact Project Manager Irma Woods on (09) 9202 1966 or email project@yirrayaakin.com.au

Click here to find out more about the Yirra Yakkin Theatre Company.

NAIDOC Week 2013 starts early in Perth with Marnda Week

Posted: May 20th, 2013

Filed under: Marnda Week, NAIDOC, NAIDOC week 2013, University of Western Australia, UWA, West Australian Student Aboriginal Corporation WASAC, YMCA Leederville

This year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations are starting early in Perth with ‘Marnda Week’, a three-day celebration of Australian Aboriginal culture organised by the West Australian Student Aboriginal Corporation (WASAC).

New members sought for WA heritage body

Posted: May 14th, 2013

Filed under: Aboriginal Heritage Act, ACMC, Department of Indigenous Affairs, Heritage

Expressions of Interest Sought for Regional Appeals Committee

Posted: April 18th, 2013

Filed under: Department of Housing WA, Indigenous housing, Regional Appeals Committee, Regional Committees, Regional Communities, Regional Housing

The Department of Housing is looking for people to join its Regional Appeals Committee (RAC), and Indigenous people in particular are encouraged to apply.

The RAC is a three-person committee that meets regularly from each region to review decisions made by the Department of Housing.

Committee Members sit on a rotational basis, and a sitting fee is paid for each Committee meeting.

For more information including application and eligibility requirements, download an Expression of Interest Application Kit, visit www.housing.wa.gov.au or call the Department of Housing on (08) 9222 45446.

Applications close 3:00pm on Monday 29 April 2013.

Perth Celebrates West Australian Aboriginal Art through Revealed Exhibition and Marketplace

Posted: April 12th, 2013

Filed under: Art Gallery of WA, Central Institute of Technology., Indigenous Arts, Perth Cultural Centre, Revealed, Revealed Exhibition and Marketplace, State Library of WA, Urban Orchard

Click to enlarge

Come down to the Revealed exhibition and marketplace in Perth this weekend for the opportunity to view and buy Aboriginal artworks directly from the artists creating them.

The Revealed exhibition presents work from new and emerging West Australian Aboriginal artists, and runs from 13 April to 4 May at the Central Institute of Technology in Northbridge.

To kick off the exhibition, the Perth Cultural Centre will come alive on Saturday 13 April with the Revealed marketplace, where visitors can both purchase art and take part in array of activities celebrating Aboriginal culture.

The State Library of WA will also be holding a free symposium in the afternoon, which explores current issues in the Indigenous art industry and highlights creativity and innovation from regional WA.

For more information on the exhibition and a list of activities taking place at the marketplace, visit www.revealed.net.au

Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program- Apply now

Posted: February 19th, 2013

Filed under: Challenger Institute, Department of Communities, Indigenous Leadership Program, One Sky Many Paths, youth leadership

‘One Sky, Many Paths’ is an Aboriginal youth leadership program that runs from April to July this year. The program includes:
•two one-week residential conferences in Fremantle
•on-line learning, with support from a local mentor
•a community project that the participants themselves will plan and run over a 14-week period.

During the course the participants get to meet and be inspired by pre-eminent Aboriginal leaders. On completion they receive a certificate II in Leadership Development.

The program is run by the Challenger Institute and funded by the WA Department for Communities. For more information go to http://www.communities.wa.gov.au/Youth/programs/osmp/Pages/default.aspx. Applications close on 22 March 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.