Ngarla

Singing The Train

Posted: November 29th, 2016

Filed under: AIATSIS, Kariyarra, Ngarla, Njamal, Wangka Maya

For the next few months AIATSIS will exhibit Singing The Train. The exhibition tells through an Aboriginal song sung in Njamal language, of the first railway that ran between Port Hedland and Marble Bar in the Pilbara between1910 to 1951. The song was created by Aboriginal composer and stockman Larry Brown and passed to his daughter Topsy Fazeldean Brown who performed it in 1964 at Port Hedland.

Larry Brown composed Singing the Train using traditional Aboriginal song styles which expressed his feelings of this new addition of a train line to his Country. Singing The Train is a collaboration between Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre, Revolutions Transport Museum and AIATSIS. For more information on Singing The Train, you can visit the website here.

Wangka Maya celebrates book launch

Posted: November 17th, 2016

Filed under: Ngarla, Wangka Maya

An event to celebrate the launch of Partulyayimarta: Ngarla Birds will take place on Monday 28 November at Wangka Maya’s South Hedland office from 10.30am to 1.00pm.

Partulyayimarta: Ngarla Birds documents an Aboriginal way of identifying, naming, and classifying birds. It also provides additional cultural and linguistic information alongside scientific and common English names for 117 different birds found throughout traditional Ngarla Country.

For more information about the event, you can contact Wangka Maya at 9172 2344 or Larissa Brown at 0488 773 143. RSVP’s are welcomed until Thursday 24 November. The book is $40, and it is available for purchase at the event and on the Wangka Maya website here.

YMAC News issue 24 now available for download

Posted: June 16th, 2014

Filed under: Banjima, Gnulli, High Court of Australia, Kuruma Marthudunera, Ngarla, YMAC News

The latest issue of YMAC News is now available for you to download. Our cover story is about the Banjima people’s on-country native title determination at Karijini National Park, and includes lots of photos from the day.

There is also a story about a significant win in the High Court by the Ngarla people that will have ramifications for native title claims nation-wide.

The Kurama and Marthudunera people and the Gnulli people have both entered into agreements with resource companies that are featured in this issue.

Click here to read these stories and more.

You can send your feedback to editor@ymac.org.au. Thank you for reading this issue of YMAC News!

Landmark High Court decision in favour of Traditional Owners

Posted: March 12th, 2014

Filed under: High Court of Australia, Mt. Goldsworthy, native title extinguishment, Ngarla, Pilbara, State of WA

The Ngarla People welcome today’s High Court decision, confirming that their native title rights were not extinguished by mining leases. The landmark ruling by the Court dismissed arguments by the Western Australian Government that 50 year-old mining leases, granted over areas 150km east of Port Hedland, permanently extinguished all native title rights in that land.

YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins said, “We congratulate the Ngarla people on this landmark High Court decision and their contribution to native title nationally.”

To listen to the ABC Rural interview with YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins regarding the landmark decision click  here.

To read the full media release click here.

Protection of Aboriginal Culture through Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park

Posted: January 30th, 2013

Filed under: Aboriginal cultural heritage., Department of Environment and Conservation, Eighty Mile Beach, Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park, Karajarri, Ngarla, Nyangumarta, Pilbara

A new marine park created to protect the natural and cultural values of the Pilbara’s Eighty Mile Beach will for the first time in Western Australia include special recognition for sites of high Aboriginal cultural significance.

The Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park is the result of collaborative efforts between the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and Indigenous Traditional Owners who have worked together to ensure the protection of Aboriginal heritage in Western Australia.

Click to Enlarge

Legal win for the Ngarla people

Posted: November 8th, 2012

Filed under: ABC, BHP Billiton, Mt. Goldsworthy, Ngarla, Pilbara

YMAC is very pleased by a Federal Court decision earlier this week stating that the BHP Mt. Goldsworthy mining leases do not permanently extinguish the Ngarla people’s native title.

Click to read more about the decision on ABC News.

Download YMAC News issue 17

Posted: March 22nd, 2012

Filed under: Badimia, Charlie Coppin, Christina Colegate, Dawn Hamlett, Jerry Maher, Kuruma Marthudunera, Mrs Doris Eaton, Ngarla, Njamal, Peter Windie, Rodney Ryan, Stephen Stewart, YMAC News

The latest issue of YMAC News is now available from our website.

It features a ceremony marking a milestone on Badimia country, a unique agreement for the future of the Njamal people, an important legal win for the Kurama and Marthudunera people, and a valuable course attended by YMAC’s co-Chairs.

There are also several new features, including “Respect for elders”, a section profiling respected elders of the Midwest and Pilbara. This issue looks at Ngarla men Charlie Coppin and Stephen Stewart. There is also a new “Frequently asked questions” section and a new column from Christina Colegate, YMAC’s policy officer.

We have also profiled YMAC Committee member Rodney Ryan, staff member Jerry Maher, and community member Dawn Hamlett.

If you have any stories you’d like to share with us, elders who you think we should profile, questions about native title, or any other letters to the editor, send them to editor@ymac.org.au.

We hope you enjoy this issue of YMAC news.

Click here to download your copy.

Meet a YMAC Director

Posted: November 10th, 2010

Filed under: Board, Ngarla, Nora Cooke

Agreement over Pilbara mythological site

Posted: December 3rd, 2009

Filed under: Boral, Ngarla

Ngarla people today announced a heritage and mining agreement with the Boral Group of Companies regarding the Tabba Tabba rock quarry, approximately 40kms east of Port Hedland.

The agreement addresses mining practices over the ‘Mikurrnya’ Aboriginal site, near the quarry, which is of mythological importance to the Ngarla People. In order to preserve and protect the Mikurrnya site to the greatest practical extent, the parties agreed to a final footprint for the mining operations, along with Exclusion Zones to protect the rest of the site.

The agreement also includes compensation to the Ngarla People for impact on their country and formal recognition that past operations had disturbed the Mikurrnya site, causing distress to the Ngarla People.

Ngarla Elder, Charlie Coppin said, “Mikurrnya is one of our most important places. It’s always been there – since the beginning of time. We need to look after it. We were very upset that the quarry was put there. Now we’ve got an agreement to try and protect it.

Simon Hawkins, CEO of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation said, “We’re pleased Boral Companies acknowledge the Ngarla People’s custodianship and the importance of the Mikurrnya site. These agreements show that despite past actions, working relationships can be resolved and developed between Traditional Owners and industry.”

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About Ngarla Country
Ngarla Country covers approximately 4,655 sq km of land east of Port Hedland. The Ngarla People were recognised as native title holders over the area in 2007 and have now have non-exclusive native title rights including the right to enter and remain on land, camp, hunt, fish, gather and use resources of the land and waters (excluding minerals), engage in rituals and ceremonies and protect areas of cultural significance.

As native title holders, Ngarla people must be consulted about development on their land and have a right to negotiate over mineral exploration and the development of new mines. Ngarla people have a native title claim over the area of Mikurrnya.

Image: Susan Armstrong, Company Secretary, Boral Contracting Pty Ltd and Ngarla Elder, Charlie Coppin