Pilbara

Agreement focuses on sustainability

Posted: April 24th, 2012

Filed under: agreement, Diane Limerick, Maisey Hyland, Ngarlawangga, Pilbara, Rico Resources, Simon Hawkins

Ngarlawangga community members, YMAC staff and Rico Resources representatives at the agreement signing



Marnti Warajanga exhibition touring the Pilbara

Posted: April 12th, 2012

Filed under: Jigalong, Marnti Warajanga, Newman, Nyangumarta, Pilbara, Port Hedland, South Hedland, Strelley, Tobias Titz, Wangka Maya, Warralong, Yandeyarra

Nyangumarta boys taking their first steps on country as recognised native title holders, 11 June 2009. Photograph by Tobias Titz

Marnti Warajanga- a Walk Together is an exhibition of photographs and stories that will be touring Pilbara communities this May and June. Showcasing the photographs of Tobias Titz, including many images of the Nyangumarta people’s native title determination in 2009, the exhibition has been on display at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in Canberra.

As the project tours the Pilbara it will also include photography workshops and community celebrations along with a redeveloped version of the exhibition.  The Marnti Warajanga Pilbara tour dates for exhibitions and workshops are:

• 3-4 May, Hedland Senior High School
• 7-8 May, South Hedland Primary School
• 9-10 May, Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre (community BBQ on 9 May)
• 14-16 May, Strelley Remote Community School (community BBQ on 19 May)
• 21-24 May, Yandeyarra Remote Community School (community BBQ on 23 May)
• 28-29 May, Newman Senior High School
• 30 May, South Newman Primary School
• 31 May, Newman Primary School (community BBQ on 31 May)
• 5-7 June, Jigalong Remote Community School (community BBQ on 7 June)

Everyone is welcome to participate in the different events by trying some yandying, taking the children’s trail or having their portrait taken at the photographic workshop.

The exhibition will also be on display in Perth before heading north, from 13-30 April in Central Park.

For more information and to view some of the photographs visit the Marnti Warajanga page at the Museum of Australian Democracy’s website.

The search is on for the next Pilbara Girl

Posted: April 10th, 2012

Filed under: Goolarri Media, Karratha, Pilbara, Pilbara Girl, Port Hedland, Roebourne

The Pilbara Girl workshops and competition are back again for 2012 and the search is now on for the next group of contestants.

Indigenous women aged 16-25 from Port Hedland, Roebourne, Karratha and surrounding communities are encouraged to enter. The Pilbara Girl program, now in its third year, is based on the successful Kimberley Girl program that has been running since 2004.

The contestants participate in a series of workshops in Port Hedland, Karratha and Roebourne promoting leadership skills and self confidence. The workshops are followed by pageants that give the girls new skills and opportunities and promote Indigenous culture within the wider community.

For more information and to download an entry form visit Goolarri Media’s website.

Check out YMAC News issue 16

Posted: December 14th, 2011

Filed under: Annual Regional Meetings, Ben Roberts, Board, Cross cultural, Eighty Mile Beach, Njamal, Nyangumarta, Pilbara, Selina Stewart, Wajarri Yamatji, Warralong, Weld Range, Yamatji., YMAC News

The latest issue of YMAC News is now available from our website, featuring some great stories of Traditional Owners in the Pilbara and Midwest looking after their country, culture and heritage.

Click here to read about steps the Nyangumarta people have taken with the State Government to protect their sea country, a legal decision that supports protection of the heritage-listed Weld Range, YMAC staff learning about Aboriginal culture, and some exciting photos of recent law business at Warralong Aboriginal community.

This issue also includes the outcomes of YMAC’s Annual Regional Meetings, information about YMAC’s operations this summer, and a feature introducing two members of our Board of Directors, Selina Stewart and Ben Roberts.

If you would like to request hard copies of YMAC News or join our e-subscribers list and get information first, please contact srosenfeld@ymac.org.au.

YMAC wins National Landcare Award

Posted: August 25th, 2011

Filed under: Nyangumarta, Nyaparu Rose, Pilbara

YMAC’s Senior Community Liaison Officer, Nyaparu Rose, has today won the ‘Leighton Holdings Indigenous Award’ at the 2011 WA Landcare Awards.

The awards are part of a conference being held in conjunction with the 7th International Symposium on Digital Earth (ISDE7) at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Nyaparu Rose was nominated by YMAC for her work with Traditional Owners on the Pilbara Sea Country Plan project. Congratualtions Nyaparu on your success and we look forward to soon hearing more news about the successful project. 

YMAC features on International Documentary

Posted: August 17th, 2011

Filed under: Mrs Doris Eaton, Pilbara

Last month, YMAC’s Pilbara Chairperson, Mrs Doris Eaton, took part in an on country interview with the international broadcaster, Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera is a highly regarded international media network that broadcasts to more than 220 million households in more than 100 countries and is the most watched news channel on You Tube, receiving 2.5 million views per month.

The program, “Australia’s Boomtown Curse” looks at Australia’s mining industry and the issues that emerge from a boom.

The program can be viewed here:

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/101east/2011/08/20118284435996818.html

A chance for Pilbara young women to shine

Posted: August 3rd, 2011

Filed under: Goolarri Media, Karratha, Pilbara, Port Hedland, Roebourne

Pilbara Girl is an annual event which aims to showcase the beauty of local Indigenous women to the world and reflect the diverse culture and heritage of the Pilbara communities. Through professional development, deportment and grooming and modeling workshops, young women build confidence, self-esteem and pride to become the next role models and mentors for these communities.

All young Indigenous women between the ages of 16 and 25 from Port Hedland, Roebourne, Karratha and surrounding communities are called to participate.
The workshops will be held in Port Hedland August 15-19 and Roebourne and Karratha on August 22-26.

Entry forms are available from Goolarri Media. Deadlines for entry are August 7 for Port Hedland and Roebourne and August 14 for Karratha.

For more information contact Buna-Tuaty Poelina on 08 91955333 or buna-tuaty.poelina@gme.com.au

YMAC to appear on International media broadcaster Al Jazeera

Posted: July 11th, 2011

Filed under: Al Jazeera, Doris Eaton, Pilbara

This week, YMAC’s Pilbara Chairperson, Mrs Doris Eaton, took part in an on country interview with the international broadcaster, Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera is a highly regarded international media network that broadcasts to more than 220 million households in more than 100 countries and is the most watched news channel on You Tube, receiving 2.5 million views per month.

The program, 101 East, will feature a documentary on the mining boom and Aboriginal culture in WA, in which YMAC will feature.

Click here for the network’s website. YMAC will also be posting the You Tube feed of the 101 East documentary on our website in August.

NAIDOC profile: the Pilbara pastoral workers’ strike

Posted: July 8th, 2011

Filed under: NAIDOC, Njamal, Pilbara, Pilbara strike

Njamal country

In 1946, Aboriginal pastoral workers embarked on the longest strike in Australian history, which was also the first industrial action by Indigenous Australians. They demanded better pay and working conditions, in a time when many Aboriginal stock workers received no cash wages at all, and were not free to leave their employment when they chose.

The strike began on May 1, 1946, at the beginning of shearing season, when the pastoralists were most vulnerable to a loss in Aboriginal labour. It had been planned years earlier by Aboriginal leaders Clancy McKenna, Dooley Bin Bin and Nyaparu Coppin, with white prospector Don McLeod. A group of about 200 elders from 23 different Aboriginal groups met and decided on a strike in 1942, but agreed to wait until the War ended before commencing action.

Hundreds of people walked off more than 20 stations, affecting about 10,000 square kilometres of sheep farming country in the Pilbara. Many of them gathered at different strike camps where they hunted, gathered bush tucker, gathered skins and pearl shell and engaged in mining activities to provide food and money for supplies for all those people in the camps.

For many of the strikers, this was their first experience of economic independence, and it proved life-changing. Many of them never went back to the stations, and instead pursued these money-making activities until some families saved enough to purchase their own stations in the 1950s. Strelley Station, in Njamal country, was one of those, and is still Aboriginal owned today.

Many Aboriginal people were put in chains or jailed for their participation in the strike. Despite the danger they were in and the pressure they faced, the strike continued on until 1949, making it the longest strike in Australian history. Don McLeod said of his fellow organiser Dooley Bin Bin,

“It is difficult to exaggerate the intelligence and courage of men like Dooley. He was a highly motivated man who dedicated himself utterly to his task. What he may have lacked in knowledge of the white man’s system he made up for by his absolute resolve and fearlessness.” (McLeod, D. How the West was Lost, self published, Port Hedland (WA), 1984. p.51)

The Pilbara strike paved the way for later protests and industrial action such as the 1966 Gurindji strike that led to equal wages for Aboriginal Australians. The courage and determination of the men and women of the Pilbara who stood up for their human rights in 1946-49 is an inspiration today to the many people who continue to pursue justice on their traditional homelands.

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, organisations and events 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/.