Country, Culture, People, Future

ASKAP

Wajarri Country featured on ABC

Posted: April 3rd, 2017

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaRkE7KUiz8

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA), one of the largest experiments ever designed to study the origins of our universe, has been featured on ABC’s Radio National.

The Australian arm of the project to build the world’s largest radio telescope, which can be found in the heart of Yamatji Country, has been partners with Wajarri Yamatji Traditional Owners since its beginning.

You can read the ABC Radio National feature here, and watch a video about the project above. If you want to learn more about the SKA, you can visit the CSIRO website here or the project’s website here.

Seeing Stars SKA Art Prize 2013

Posted: June 7th, 2013

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When completed, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be the world’s largest telescope, giving astronomers remarkable insights into the formation of the early universe.

Under the joint hosting arrangements in the international SKA program, Australia will host the SKA’s survey telescope at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO), which is on traditional Wajarri Yamatji country in the Mid West region of Western Australia.

In celebration of this exciting event, the Department of Innovation are holding Seeing Stars, a national art competition where artists are invited to create pieces which express the SPA’s potential for discovery.

Artwork must be 2D, and based around one or more of the five ‘themes’ identified below:
• The birth of stars and galaxies
• The mysteries of dark energy
• Alien life
• The genius of Einstein
• Giant magnetic fields of space

Entries close 11:59pm AEST, Friday 5 July 2013.

The exhibition of winners and finalists will be held in early August at the Yarra Gallery, Federation Square, Melbourne.

For application eligibility requirements, visit the SKA website.

 

NIADOC profile: Yamaji Art

Posted: July 3rd, 2011

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Yamaji Art is an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre in Geraldton, Western Australia which has been described as “the artistic voice of the Midwest”. It represents Aboriginal artists from many of the region’s towns and beyond, including Geraldton, Mullewa, Yalgoo, Meekatharra, Cue, Mt. Magnet, Carnarvon and even Port Hedland. Yamaji Art was founded two years ago as a business arm of Marra Indigenous Art and Design.

Yamaji Art supports its artists by providing materials, running workshops, and generally encouraging quality art by providing a safe space for creative expression. They help artists become self sufficient by connecting them with buyers locally, nationally and internationally.

Despite its relative youth as an organisation, Yamaji Art has had successful shows in Perth, Cairns, and Capetown, and is scheduled to have a show in Washington DC this October.

“My paintings help me. When I get stressed or angry I just go paint and it really helps me. When I finish a painting I take it to Yamaji Art and they decide where to put it so people will see it,” said Olive Boddington, one of the artists with Yamaji Art.
Olive participated in a program run by Yamaji Art with Curtin University and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research called Ilgarijiri. Several artists went out to Boolardy Station, the site of the ASKAP radio telescope, and drew inspiration from the landscape and the sky while learning about radio astronomy.

“I was born out in the bush, on Yallalong Station, so the trip was like going home for me. I paint what I know from that area in the Murchison, so the trip was very inspirational,” Olive Boddington said.

As a place where art and traditional culture meet, the collective serves as a place to house stories, foster creative development and skills, and bring artists of the Midwest into the Aboriginal art movement.

Yamaji Art is exhibiting at the Arts and Cultural Development Council (ACDC) in Geraldton as part of their NAIDOC show. The exhibition runs 8-29 July. Yamaji Arts will also be running bush basket weaving workshops on Tuesday, 5 July and Wednesday, 6 July at the ACDC. To learn more call 9965 3440.

Across Australia every July, NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In honour of NAIDOC 2011 YMAC is featuring a series of Aboriginal people and organisations that contribute to the vibrant Aboriginal culture of the Midwest and Pilbara. For more information on NAIDOC including its history and events happening near you, visit http://www.naidoc.org.au/.

Reaching for the Stars: Wajarri story on SBS!

Posted: April 13th, 2010

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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/

Agreement for ASKAP telescope

Posted: November 26th, 2009

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The Wajarri People today celebrated the conclusion of the Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) for the construction of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder telescope (ASKAP)

The agreement was announced at Parliament House by the Wajarri People, their representativesYMAC, the Hon Christian Porter MLA, the Hon Brendan Grylls MLA, the Hon Troy Buswell MLA, and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

The Wajarri People have approximately 2000-3000 community members and one of the largest native title claims in Australia. Wajarri country includes the area chosen for the Australian Square including the area chosen for the ASKAP telescope. The agreement area covers approximately 130 square kilometres of land, located 175 kilometres west of Meekatharra.

The agreement provides financial and non-financial benefits and ensures the cultural heritage of the Wajarri People is protected. Also, with a focus on Pia Aboriginal Community (just 30kms from the proposed SKA site), the agreement also included education opportunities, internet access and cadetships and mentoring for Wajarri kids.

Anthony Dann, Wajarri Traditional Owner said, “The myth that native title holds up development is false; this agreement was completed in record time and the future is looking bright. I look forward to the prospects that education, employment and training opportunities can bring to our community. It’s an exciting time for Wajarri People, the Mid-West and Australia that such a major development will be happening in our country.”

Image: Wajarri Representative, Anthony Dann.

Media coverage:
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/traditional-aborigines-shoot-for-the-stars-20091126-jugy.html

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/sci-tech/native-title-claimants-support-galaxy-quest-20091127-jvlw.html

 

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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