YMAC Members’ News

Traditional Owners sign Rail Agreement with Hancock Prospecting

Posted: August 27th, 2010

Filed under: Hancock Prospecting, Kariyarra, Rail

Hancock Prospecting’s Tad Watroba with Kariyarra elders Lena Alone and Elsie Williams.

The Kariyarra native title group today announced a native title agreement with Hancock Prospecting. The agreement covers the company’s proposed heavy haulage railway corridor to carry iron ore from its Roy Hill Project to Port Hedland.

Learning about country and culture

Posted: August 22nd, 2010

Filed under: Cultural Awareness, Nyangumarta, Staff

This month, YMAC staff and Directors participated in cultural awareness training at 80 Mile Beach on Nyangumarta country. Staff were taken by the Nyangumarta people to visit sites fo significance, to fish and hunt traditional foods. Nights around the campfire were spent listening to dreamtime stories, learning traditional dances and hearing about the Aboriginal kinship system. Damper making and hunting turkey were favourite activities resulting in tasty camp cook-ups. Thanks to the Nyangumarta people for the wonderful experiences and memories of the trip.

Geraldton team celebrate NAIDOC Week

Posted: July 7th, 2010

Filed under: Bundiyarra, Geraldton, NAIDOC

Today YMAC’s Geraldton office participated in the 2010 NAIDOC Family Fun Day at Bundiyarra.

Community celebrates NAIDIC Week.

YMAC held a stall at the event that offered information to community members about the organisation and native title issues. A big congratulations and thankyou to the Geraldton team who helped set up and run the stall throughout the day, and to everyone who stopped for a chat. Happy NAIDOC Week!

Kuruma Marthudunera sign pipeline deal

Posted: June 24th, 2010

Filed under: Barrow Island, Chevron, Kuruma Marthudunera, Pipeline

The Kuruma Marthudunera (KM) people are this week celebrating the conclusion of negotiations with Chevron Australia for the future construction of a domestic gas pipeline from Barrow Island through the KM’s native title claim area.

KM country covers approximately 15,759 square kilometres of land in the west Pilbara region and comprises part of the Fortescue River and the complete river system of the Robe River, in the most westerly part of the Hamersley Range.

The project involves the construction of a single gas pipeline to connect a processing plant on Barrow Island with the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. The purpose of the pipeline is to supply a portion of the output from the gas project to domestic gas users in Perth and elsewhere.

On behalf of the Gorgon Venture Joint Participants, Chevron has been negotiating with KM since mid 2009 to secure their support for the construction of the pipeline. The agreement provides for the payment of compensation to the KM people for the impact on their native title rights and interests and upholds their continued rights to access the area under their traditional laws and customs.

“When we were surveying our country with the company we came across several important sites in the designated construction area. After talking with Chevron the result is that the company will build the pipeline around these areas and not destroy these sites. This type of good working relationship between ourselves and the company will help us to continue to preserve our heritage for future generations.” said KM representative, Cyril Lockyer.

Neil Finaly, KM community member, Colin Beckett, General Manager Greater Gorgon and Cyril Lockyer, kM community member.

Funding for Woodstock Abydos Heritage Project

Posted: June 12th, 2010

Filed under: Garrett, Heritage, Kariyarra, Palyku, Woodsock Abydos

YMAC’s Teri O’Neill, and Stan Stylianou with Minister Garrett at the announcement.

Peter Garrett, Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts has announced that YMAC has been successful in securing $97,000 to progress the current Woodstock Abydos Heritage Project.
Woodstock/Abydos is located in the East Pilbara region in the traditional country of the Kariyarra and Palyku people. The area contains numerous sites of cultural and historical importance including mythological, ceremonial, artefacts, engravings and paintings.
The grant will be used to undertake a comprehensive survey of the Woodstock Abydos reserves, in conjunction with Traditional Owners and government agencies, to record previously undocumented archaeological sites.

YMAC Hosts Regional Indigenous Discussions

Posted: May 16th, 2010

Filed under: Gascoyne, IIB, Mid West, Yamatji.

YMAC recently hosted the Mid West Conversation (10 & 11 May in Geraldton) and Gascoyne Conversation (13 May in Carnarvon) events, on behalf of the WA State Government’s Indigenous Implementation Board (IIB). The conversations were an open discussion for Aboriginal people, aimed at opening up a new way of working together in the region.

YMAC’s Co-Chairperson, Roy Bellotti, YMAC Regional Manager, Donna Murdock with Dr Sue Gordon from the IIB.

Around 35 Aboriginal leaders, community members and service providers attended each event to discuss key issues and priorities in the region including; health, education, employment, justice and regional governance. The key outcomes of the conversations will be put into a report for the WA State Government’s ‘Indigenous Implementation Board’ (IIB), which then makes recommendations to Minister of Indigenous Affairs Kim Hames.

Reaching for the Stars: Wajarri story on SBS!

Posted: April 13th, 2010

Filed under: ASKAP, SBS, Wajarri

At 6pm tonight ‘Living Black’ on SBS will feature a story on the Pia community school in Wajarri country and the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP).

Last year, the Wajarri people signed an Indigenous Land Use Agreement for the construction of the ASKAP project. The agreement had a particular focus on education and training opportunities for the Pia Aboriginal community school, just 30 kms from the telescope construction site.

Happy viewing!

Update: watch it here:

http://player.sbs.com.au/naca/#/naca/living_black/Latest/playlist/Reaching-for-the-Stars/

Community Enjoys Open Day

Posted: March 16th, 2010

Filed under: Innawonga, Pilbara, Tom Price.

On Friday, Traditional Owners in the Pilbara gathered together at our Tom Price office to learn more about native title.
YMAC’s open day, was an opportunity for local Traditional Owners to get information on theirnative title claims and other matters that affect country, such as mining, development, heritage and environmental protection. The day included a welcome to country by elder, Lola Young and a BBQ lunch where community members could discuss native title matters in an informal setting.
“It was a great day with people popping in to say hello, enjoying lunch and chatting about what’s affecting their communities. It was good to have my questions answered and know that our native title claim, the Innawonga claim, is moving forward. It made me happy to see so many Aboriginal people care about what happens to their country and community.” said Lola.

Nyangumarta share environmental knowlege

Posted: February 11th, 2010

Filed under: Environment, Marine, Nyangumarta

Nyangumarta Traditional Owners are working with the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) to conserve the special marine environment of the Eighty Mile Beach area.

Consultation has been undertaken over 18 months between the Nyangumarta people, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) and the Marine Policy and Planning Branch of DEC. In addition, DEC has been working with six other native title groups along the Pilbara coast to investigate the idea of marine parks and reserves.

Engagement with the Nyangumarta people
· In separate groups, men and women recorded sites of resource use and special features. From these mapping exercises, the working group recognised a number of important cultural areas along Eighty Mile Beach.

· Traditional Owners also created seasonal harvest calendars, revealing the key marine resources for the Nyangumarta people.

· Site visits to important cultural areas allowed Nyangumarta people teach DEC about their connection with coastal and sea country. The Nyangumarta people have an intricate knowledge of their country and retain a strong connection through sacred sites and ceremonial activities.

· A brainstorming session was also held to explore the future aspirations of the Nyangumarta people for the coastal strip. Protecting cultural sites, stories and songlines’ was regarded by the Nyangumarta people as the most important component of any proposal for a marine park in the area.

· Nyangumarta aspirations for their coastline and sea country are best summed up by the phrase “Ngalpa warran, ngalpa marrngu”, which translates to “Healthy country, healthy people”.

Nyangumarta Traditional Owner, Nyaparu Rose said, “The best part about the process was that DEC came to the people. They sat down and learned from us. We taught about the seasons, about hunting and fishing, about bush foods. It was also a chance for young Nyangumarta people to go out on country and learn from their Elders. So it was like a workshop for our younger generations too.”

Image: Nyangumarta Traditional Owners with DEC representatives on a site visit.