Yamatji Region News

Aboriginal language initiatives

Posted: May 15th, 2015

Filed under: Bundiyarra Irra Wanga language program, Geraldton, Janelle Mowarin, language, Nanda, Ngarluma, Nyangumarta, Port Hedland, Roebourne, Tyson Mowarin, Wangka Maya, Weerianna Street Media

There are positive initiatives across Western Australia committed to preserving traditional languages.

Nyangumarta speakers in Hedland recently underwent training to become qualified interpreters for hospitals and courts. The training facilitated by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters is hoped to increase access to services for Aboriginal people.

Weerianna Street Media in collaboration with linguist Janelle Mowarin and the Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre have created language videos for schools and other resources to complement a Ngarluma online dictionary. The Wangka Maya dictionary and Ngarluma Language Resource are available online here.

Geraldton’s Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga Language Centre recently launched a Nhanda alphabet poster along with other educational posters which promote the Nhanda language. Anyone interested in contributing to the Nhanda dictionary project may call Ms Sitorus at the Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga Language Centre on 9920 7900.

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.

Young didgeridoo players shine at Rangeway Primary School

Posted: April 29th, 2015

Filed under: Geraldton, INDI-GENIUS, music, National Reconciliation Week, Rangeway Primary School

For the last three years, students at Rangeway Primary School in Geraldton have been learning to play the didgeridoo at school through a music program started by music and arts teacher George Scicluna.

Didgeridoo players Robert Tester and Rolan Deutokom have been taking time out of their regular work days  to teach the students for an hour a week, and it is clear the practice is paying off. Last year, the students opened up the Reconciliation Concert at the local Queens Park Theatre, supporting Archie Roach (see video below) and played in front of thousands at the local Football Finals.

The program has gained funding from local mining groups and worked collaboratively with the local Bundiyarra Aboriginal Corporation to put on workshops and performances. Goerge Scicluna reports that they are now in the second phase of planning where they are helping other schools to engage and become part of the program.

Join Bundiyarra in commemorating the ANZAC spirit

Posted: March 27th, 2015

Filed under: Anzac, Bundiyarra, camp Gallipoli, Geraldton

Australian Bureau of Statistics is coming to Geraldton

Posted: February 25th, 2015

Filed under: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Geraldton, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey

Over the next few weeks, interviewers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will be collecting information from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the City of Greater Geraldton area.

The interviewees are an important part of the 11,500 sample of people randomly selected to participate in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS) across Australia.

The aim of NATSISS is to measure the progress of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people since the survey was last conducted in 2008. The survey covers a broad range of topics, such as experiences of homelessness, access to services, and health; and is used to inform policy and funding decisions around programs and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.

For more information visit the ABS.

New Malgana video on ABC Open

Posted: January 16th, 2015

Filed under: ABC Open, Bundiyarra Irra Wanga language program, language, Malgana, Shark Bay, Wajarri Yamatji

This Malgana Mother Tongue video, The Buyungurra who didn’t listen, was released today on ABC Open. It was created jointly by  Malgana woman Bianca McNeair, ABC Open’s Chris Lewis and the Bundiyarra – Irra Wangga Language Centre.

You can also watch more videos from ABC Open and Bundiyarra, both in Wajarri language, by clicking  here and here.

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. 

Celebrating 20 years of YMAC

Posted: December 17th, 2014

Filed under: 20 years of YMAC, Mrs Doris Eaton

December marks 20 years since YMAC became a representative body under the Native Title Act. In celebration of this milestone the Board of Directors is proud to announce a new publication Looking After Country: Our Mother, Our Provider and Keeper.

The book, which is rich with photos and interviews, provides an important record of the achievements of the organisation and the Traditional Owners of the the Midwest, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of Western Australia.

YMAC Co-Chairperson Mrs Doris Eaton said the book is a retrospective on the organisation, how it has grown, and what it has achieved.

“It took us 20 years to get where we are but we’ve got more things to do. We want to see more determinations, we’ve got more to come.”

Click here to view the book on the web or email editor@ymac.org.au to request a hard copy.

Traditional Owners and miner work together in Weld Range

Posted: December 3rd, 2014

Filed under: Des Mongoo, National Heritage List, Sinosteel Midwest Corporation Ltd, Wajarri Yamatji, Weld Range

The Wajarri Yamatji people of Western Australia have announced an agreement with iron ore miner Sinosteel Midwest Corporation Ltd. The Agreement is over Sinosteel’s Weld Range project 70 kms northwest of the town of Cue in WA’s Midwest.

The National Heritage Listed Weld Range is a not only a very significant area to the Wajarri Yamatji people, but also to the history of Western Australia. Sinosteel and the Wajarri Yamatji people agreed on exclusion zones around areas of particular importance, where Sinosteel has agreed never to mine.

For the full media release click here.