Yamatji Region News

YMAC welcomes newly elected Yamatji Chairperson: Mr Victor Mourambine

Posted: May 30th, 2013

Filed under: native title, Order of Australia, Victor Mourambine, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Yamatji Regional Committee, Yamatji., YMAC, YMAC Board of Directors

YMAC would like to welcome Mr Victor Mourambine, who has recently been elected as the new Yamatji Chairperson to our Board of Directors.

Victor is a Wajarri man from Northampton who has very deep ties to the region, and is grateful for the opportunities he has had to help his people.

He has a long history of working with the Aboriginal community, on the Commission of Elders at state and regional level, and through the Department of Justice helping prisoners. His work with Aboriginal prisoners earned him the Order of Australia.

Victor’s work in native title is motivated by a desire to gain recognition for traditional owners. He wants to carry on the fight of elders who have passed before they were able to gain legal recognition of their country and culture.

To learn more about Victor’s life and experiences of native title in Australia, please see the video below.

Pieces of Gutharraguda exhibition opens in Carnarvon this Friday evening

Posted: May 28th, 2013

Filed under: Carnarvon, FORM., Gwoonwardu Mia, Helena Bogucki, Indigenous Arts, Jimmy Poland, Malgana, Pieces of Gutharraguda, Shark Bay

After the success of Jimmy Poland’s Pieces of Gutharraguda exhibition opening in Shark Bay in May, the exhibition will now travel to Carnarvon, where it opens at the Gwoonwardu Mia Cultural Centre this Friday, 31 May, from 5:30 to 7:30pm.

At 86 years old, respected Malgana elder and local Denham community icon, Jimmy Poland, has been carving pearl shell, emu eggs and boab nuts for many years – a skill that was passed down from his father – and he tells the story of his life in Shark Bay through the Pieces of Gutharraguda exhibition.

The exhibition will run from 31 May to 20 June 2013.

For details about the exhibition opening, please see flyer below.

click to enlarge

2013 Good Heart Art Exhibition set to open in Perth

Posted: May 24th, 2013

Filed under: Aboriginal Art, Good Heart 2013, Indigenous Arts, Mid West, Oakajee Port and Rail Good Heart Aboriginal Art Project

click to enlarge

The 2013 Good Heart Art Exhibition will soon open in Perth after a spectacular preview of the exhibition finishes up in Geraldton today.

Almost 200 pieces from over 50 new and established mid-west artists will be showcased in Perth from 10-14 June, and all artwork will be for sale with proceeds going to the artists.

This will be the Good Heart Art’s sixth exhibition, sponsored by Oakajee Port and Rail.

The exhibition will run from Monday 10 June – Friday 14 June 2013,  10am to 4pm daily, in the foyer of the QV1 Building, 250 St Georges Terrace, Perth.

For more information, contact Nan Rickards on 0417 184 290 or visit the the Good Heart website.

Badimia People sign Native Title Agreement with Top Iron

Posted: May 23rd, 2013

Filed under: Badimia, Extension Hill, Midwest, Mummaloo Project, Native Title Agreements, Simon Hawkins, Top Iron, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation

Click to enlarge L-R: Greg Knox (Top Iron), Nick Revell (Top Iron), Badimia Traditional Owner Frank Walsh Jnr., Bruce Richardson (Top Iron), Kevin Stemp (Top Iron), with YMAC claim lawyer Paul Avina.

The Badimia People, Traditional Owners of land in the Midwest region of Western Australia, are pleased to announce they have entered into an agreement with Top Iron Pty Ltd. The agreement paves the way for the iron ore miners to develop their Greater Mummaloo Project in Badimia country, near the existing Extension Hill project.

The Badimia people will benefit from preferential contracting opportunities and employment targets on the project, as well as financial compensation linked to the project’s production. The company has also agreed to hand over all housing units and light vehicles to the Badimia people at the end of the project, further enhancing opportunities for Badimia businesses.

The agreement also includes several provisions to protect and promote Badimia culture and heritage, including heritage survey protocols, Badimia cultural awareness workshops for Top Iron employees, and avoidance of certain areas that are important to Badimia cultural heritage.

Badimia working group member Frank Walsh Jnr. said of the agreement, ‘Badimia people have once again shown that they can reach agreements like this with mining companies in our region and that we are quite supportive of those companies who totally respect and understand our Badimia people and culture.

‘At the end of the day it is about empowering our people and communities. The financial aspects of these agreements are important, but the economic and employment opportunities, as well as heritage protections that arise out of these agreements, are also very significant’.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) CEO Simon Hawkins said, ‘The agreement was reached swiftly, after Top Iron made efforts to develop a positive relationship with the Badimia people before the formal negotiations began.

‘The company made an effort to understand the community’s aspirations and concerns, so the negotiations went very smoothly and only took two formal meetings. This has laid the foundations for a good relationship between both parties for the future of the agreement’.

Indigenous Storybook, Midwest and Pilbara edition

Posted: May 17th, 2013

Filed under: Geraldton, Mid West, Pilbara, Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia, WA Indigenous Storybook.

The Public Health Advocacy Institute of WA is launching the third edition of their Indigenous Storybook at a celebration in Geraldton next week. The book showcases the achievements of Indigenous people who have contributed to health, social, economic and environmental outcomes for their communities.

The storybook includes 13 stories from the Mid-west and Pilbara regions, told by the people involved. They cover projects such as health and environmental issues, community gardens and employment, leadership and personal journeys.

The stories highlight issues that affect Indigenous communities across the Mid-West and Pilbara regions such tobacco awareness, substance abuse, crime prevention, sustaining culture and language and youth engagement.

For more information, and to download the previous editions, visit PHAIWA’s website or email phaiwa@curtin.edu.au.

Yugunga-Nya People Sign Native Title Agreement with Ventnor Resources

Posted: April 30th, 2013

Filed under: Bruce Maluish, Doolgunna, Evelyn Gilla., Green Dragon Copper Project, Murchison., Simon Hawkins, Thaduna, Ventnor Resources, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Yugunga-Nya

The Yugunga-Nya People, Traditional Owners of land within the Eastern Murchison region of Western Australia, have announced the signing of an agreement with Australian base metals company Ventnor Resources Limited (Ventnor) for the Thaduna/Green Dragon Copper Project over 640 hectares of their traditional country in Doolgunna Western Australia.

The agreement recognises the cultural and environmental significance of the area for Traditional Owners and aims to deliver significant financial and social outcomes to the Yugunga-Nya People through commercial and community development opportunities.

Yugunga-Nya Traditional Evelyn Gilla said, ‘I am happy that this agreement was signed. The
company was friendly, and it was a good agreement for Yugunga-Nya people’

Ventnor Managing Director Bruce Maluish responded, ‘we at Ventnor extend our appreciation
to the Yugunga-Nya People for the goodwill they have exhibited throughout our negotiations
that have culminated in this important agreement. Ventnor looks forward to working with the
group in the future’.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) CEO Simon Hawkins said, ‘This agreement
shows what can be achieved when companies are open from the outset. The mutual
cooperation throughout negotiations meant this agreement was finalised within a short
timeframe and both parties were happy with the result’.

Pieces of Gutharraguda Exhibition Opening in Denham

Posted: April 24th, 2013

Filed under: Denham, FORM., Helena Bogucki, Indigenous Arts, Jimmy Poland, Malgana, Pieces of Gutharraguda, Shark Bay, Shark Bay World Heritage and Discovery Centre

Respected local Denham community icon, Jimmy Poland, will tell the story of his life in Shark Bay through an upcoming exhibition of his jewellery and artwork called Pieces of Gutharraguda.

At 86 years old, Malgana elder Jimmy has been carving pearl shell, emu eggs and boab nuts for many years – a skill that was passed down from his father – but this is the first time his works have been documented visually as part of Malgana cultural history.

Through a mentorship program supported by contemporary WA arts organisation, FORM, Jimmy has been able to work with leading WA jeweller and designer, Helena Bogucki. His pieces reflect the evolution of Gutharraguda (Shark Bay) country, as well as the fishing and pastoral industries of the town.

Pieces of Gutharraguda will be showing at the Rose de Freycinet Gallery, Shark Bay World Heritage and Discovery Centre, 3-24 May 2013. The exhibition will then travel to Gwoonwardu Mia Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre in Carnarvon, Port Hedland Galleries, and Perth.

Click to Enlarge

Good Heart 2013 Calls for Indigenous Artworks

Posted: April 19th, 2013

Filed under: Aboriginal Art, Good Heart 2013, Indigenous Arts, Mid West, Oakajee Port and Rail Good Heart Aboriginal Art Project, Oakajee Port and Rail.

There is just over a week left for Indigenous artists from the mid-west to submit contributions to be considered for the Good Heart 2013 art exhibition.

Now in its sixth year, the Oakajee Port and Rail Good Heart Aboriginal Art Project showcases traditional and contemporary works by emerging and established mid-west artists to a metropolitan audience.

The main exhibition will take place in Perth from 10-14 June 2013, after a preview in Geraldton from 13-27 May.

Works must be submitted for consideration by Wednesday 1 May 2013.

Artists interested in submitting works should contact Nan Rickards on 0417 184 290 or email nan.rickards@bigpond.com

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