Yamatji On-Country 2024
The Yamatji community gathered on Southern Yamatji Country on 4 and 5 September 2024 at the Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation in Geraldton for the 4th Annual Yamatji on Country meeting.
On Day 1, community members from across the region joined together to express their concern that action taken on addressing community issues highlighted in the 2022 and 2023 Call to Action statements was going backwards.
New and urgent actions additional to the previous year’s Call to Action statements that also need to be addressed were identified. These actions included:
A celebration of Culture and entertainment with artists performing from the region concluded Day 1. The much-anticipated evening program was a family-friendly, drug and alcohol-free event that brought together all First Nations peoples from across the region to join together in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying music, bushtucker and a BBQ.
Day Two was attended by several government officials, including Minister for Education; Aboriginal Affairs; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, Hon Dr Tony Buti, representing Premier Roger Cook; Greens Senator Dorinda Cox; Member for Geraldton Ms Lara Dalton MLA; and the Western Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People, Ms Jacqueline McGowan-Jones.
While Minister Buti acknowledged the importance of the Call-to-Action statement and did give updates on progress taking place through the Midwest District Leadership Group (DLG) and The Midwest Aboriginal Organisations Alliance (MAOA), he did not provide a report against the numbered actions detailed against the priority areas contained in the Call to Action.
The community’s frustration at not receiving the expected, comprehensive whole-of-government response to the 2023 Call-to-Action statement that Premier Roger Cook had previously indicated would be shared ahead of the event was evident.
In response, community members requested Minister Buti to provide a substantial written response against the Call to Action by December 2024. Local Member Lara Dalton also committed to assisting community to access more detail on the government’s response.
Students from local high schools were once again a highlight of the event, with youth representatives presenting on their personal leadership journeys, positive programs that were happening in their schools, and solutions to their key priorities from the 2022 and 2023 youth statements. Students from Geraldton Senior High School, Champion Bay Senior High School, and Nagle Catholic College presented on both days, to community members and invited guests.
The event also had a record number of stalls involved this year from a range of different community services and organisations. They included the following:
On Day 1, we welcomed:
On Day 2 we welcomed:
YMAC are currently working on the 2024 Call to Action and accompanying Report based on the work produced by the community this year. The expectation is that the government will make it a priority to provide a tangible response as promised in December last year to work together with the Yamatji community to achieve further positive action.
Both the 2024 Call to Action statement and Report will be released in due course. Check out the Yamatji on Country photo gallery here
Yamatji On-Country 2024 – Happening Tomorrow!
2024 Yamatji on Country is happening this Wednesday 4 September and Thursday 5 September from 9.30am at Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation.
Wednesday 4th is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people only.
On Thursday 5th, government and agency guests are invited to join the conversation.
Below is the Agenda of what to expect from the event on Day 2:
This is an opportunity to meet with each other and discuss the Call to Action, that seeks to achieve support for self-determined and place-based solutions on issues facing our community.
The 2023 Call to Action will be discussed which you can read here.
Yamatji On-Country is a family-friendly, drug and alcohol-free event.
Yamatji On-Country 2024 – Join us for an evening of culture!
The Yamatji on Country Evening event is back on again at Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation from 5.30pm on Wednesday 4 September 2024.
The event is an evening celebration of culture and entertainment with some amazing artists performing from the region including:
So, come along and relax and have a yarn with your community while enjoying a free BBQ and bushtucker.
Yamatji On-Country’s evening celebration is a family-friendly, drug and alcohol-free event, bringing together all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from across the region.
Yamatji On-Country 2024 – 1 Week To Go!
We are only 1 week out from the 2024 Yamatji on Country event. The event is presented by YMAC and gives First Nations people across the Mid-West, Murchison and Gascoyne regions the opportunity to have a say on matters important to their communities.
We are pleased to announce that the Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Tony Buti has confirmed he will attend, and he will be joined by Mr Shane Love, Leader of the Opposition, Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton, representing Community Services Simone McGurk, and the Commissioner for Children and Young People, Jacqueline McGowan-Jones.
From 9.30am, 4 September first day discussion is reserved for First Nations people with a strong focus on progressing the 2023 Call to Action. At 5.30pm, a free barbecue is open to all, providing an informal setting for First Nations people to talk with day two guests.
On 5 September, an 8am breakfast is on offer before the meeting gets underway at 9.30am with invited delegates joining the conversation, along with various parliamentarians and senior government representatives.
There will be several community stalls participating this year and they include:
The youth of the Yamatji region will also be participating again this year from the following schools:
Yamatji on Country is a drug and alcohol-free event with lunch provided on both days.
Yamatji On-Country 2024
The 2024 annual Yamatji On-Country meeting is fast approaching. This year’s event will be held at the Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation in Geraldton on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 September 2024.
This significant two-day event is an important time for First Nations people from across the Mid West, Gascoyne and Murchison to come together and discuss issues important to them and collectively engage on community-led solutions for presentation to government.
The event will feature information stalls from community and government organisations and include an evening of bushtucker and entertainment.
The 2023 Call to Action will be discussed which you can read here.
Having your say for your community — Yamatji On-Country 2023
The 2023 annual Yamatji On-Country meeting took place on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 September at the Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation in Geraldton.
This significant two-day event is an important time for Aboriginal people from the Mid West, Gascoyne and Murchison to come together and have a say on issues important to them and collectively engage on community-led solutions for presentation to government, while also enjoying time together with bushtucker and entertainment.
Guest speakers for 2023 included WA Commissioner for Children and Young People Ms Jacqueline McGowan-Jones, Mr Thomas Mayo from the Federal Government Voice Referendum Working Group, Parliamentary Secretary Yaz Mubarakai MLA, Greens Senator Dorinda Cox and Local Member for Geraldton Lara Dalton MLA.
In addition to community discussion, the event featured engaging Youth Presentations from students from several attending high schools, as well as presentations and Q&A on the Yamatji on Country Call to Action from 2022, and changes to cultural heritage protection laws in Western Australia.
Information stalls from government and community including Headspace, Family Legal Service, Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Services (GRAMS), Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Streeties, and Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation, IDCare, were also in attendance.
Read the 2023 Call to Action here, and Media Release here.
Snapshot agenda:
Day 1
9.30am – 4pm: First Nations Peoples Day. Closed event.
5.30pm – 8.30pm: Evening Entertainment and Meal. Bushtucker and entertainment featuring First Nations’ performers from the Yamatji region.
Day 2
8.00am: Community Breakfast - all welcome
9.00am – 1.45pm: Government Decision-makers join the conversation. Program includes student performances, student and community member presentations, response from invited guests, panel and community discussion.
Lunch is provided on both days.
Yamatji On-Country 2022
Youth involvement: a first
In a first for Yamatji On-Country, students from Nagle Catholic College, Champion Bay Senior High School and Geraldton Senior High School workshopped their main areas of concern with teachers and YMAC representatives before speaking at the event. They came up with 12 main issues and concerns before narrowing it down to the top five they felt most important: racism, alcohol and drugs, lack of culture, online bullying, and home environment.
Community representatives were selected from First Nations people attending the event – Geraldton youth then joined with Elders as they worked together on six key messages they wanted to present to government as calls to action (including many of the concerns the students had put forward):
A Call to Action
The Call to Action statement was presented at the event to Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti, Geraldton Lara Dalton MLA (representing Community Services Minister Simone McGurk) and directors and senior staff from the Departments of Communities, Education and Planning, Lands and Heritage; WA Police and National Indigenous Australians Agency. These representatives also joined the bush tucker barbecue on the evening of day one and shared lunch with students on day two. Entertainment at the barbecue came from Latia Robertson, Zain Laudehr-May, Trevor Farrell, Craig Pickett and Carrum Mourambine.
Read the Call to Action statement.
Read the media release, issued following the event.
Watch a condensed version of Yamatji On-Country 2022 highlights:
Watch an extended version of Yamatji On-Country 2022 highlights:
Yamatji On-Country also included stalls from Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (GRAMS), Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries – Aboriginal Cultural Centre Community Engagement Planning (First Nations Staff), Wajarri Yamatji Aboriginal Corporation – SKA Employment Expo, First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance, Headspace and Helping Minds.
Country is our mother, the provider and keeper of cultural belongings. Country and Culture go together. You can’t have one without the other.
Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians throughout Western Australia, and on whose Country we work. We acknowledge and respect their deep connection to their lands and waterways.
We honour and pay respect to Elders, and to their ancestors who survived and cared for Country.
Our offices are located on Whadjuk Country, Southern Yamatji Country, Yinggarda Country, Kariyarra Country, and Yawuru Country. We recognise the continuing culture, traditions, stories and living cultures on these lands and commit to building a brighter future together.
Disclaimer: Caution: Please be advised that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased people.
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