Pilbara

NAIDOC profile: Michael Leslie Foundation for the Performing Arts

Posted: July 6th, 2011

Filed under: Michael Leslie Foundation for the Performing Arts, NAIDOC, Pilbara

Eugene Lyndon, a Michael Leslie student, before his trip to Los Angeles. (Photo courtesy of The Michael Leslie Foundation for the Performing Arts.)

Since its beginnings in 2006, the Michael Leslie Foundation for the Performing Arts has been empowering children in the Pilbara to reach their potential through the performing arts. The many programs run by the foundation all share a common goal of helping people gain self confidence and overcome self-defeating attitudes.

Choreographer Michael Leslie is passionate about changing the lives of young people in the Pilbara. “Performing arts is the way to inspire confidence,” said Michael. “Children need to be taught that they are beautiful, that they are unique. Performing arts is a way for kids to express themselves, and get that confidence… Aboriginal people are cultural people. Singing, acting, dancing- it’s all storytelling. It’s a part of us.”

Michael is motivated by past injustices to Indigenous Australians and a desire to help Indigenous kids become leaders. “Kids need to be supported… I can relate to them because I went through all the same things in my childhood that they are going through now. I set up the foundation to give Aboriginal kids the advantage I had,” said Michael.

The foundation has many different facets, including after school programs, creative writing and adult literacy, workshops, mentoring, and international leadership programs. Currently Michael visits schools throughout the Pilbara to teach performing arts, bringing with him singers, actors and playwrights as guest teachers. The students then visit other schools to perform. He is working on setting up a regional school choir next term.

Through strong corporate partnerships he also supports students to travel internationally to participate in dance and leadership events. Earlier this year he went with three young Pilbara dancers, Treya Long and Kiefer and Eugene Lyndon, to the 23rd Annual International Association of Blacks in Dance conference in Los Angeles, California.

“I try to expose the students to new experiences and open their eyes to the world. It isn’t just about dance, it’s about leadership. Aboriginal people need strong, innovative, savvy leaders. That will make Australia a better country for everyone.”

To learn more visit http://www.michaelleslie.com.au/

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/.

3-10 July is NAIDOC Week

Posted: June 20th, 2011

Filed under: Mid West, NAIDOC, Pilbara

NAIDOC Week, an annual celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, is fast approaching. NAIDOC is a time for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to celebrate.  The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself.

There are a number of community celebrations in the MidWest and Pilbara, including NAIDOC Idol in Karratha, A family day in Geraldton, a community concert in Port Hedland, and a film festival in Carnarvon, to name just a few.

To find out about NAIDOC Week activities in your area, contact your nearest Indigenous Coordination Centre (ICC) on free call 1800 079 098. There are ICC offices in South Hedland, Geraldton, Perth, and many other locations nationally.

ACCO wins Premier’s Active Citizenship Community Group Award

Posted: January 28th, 2011

Filed under: Aboriginal Communities Charitable Organisation, ACCO, Pilbara

                                                                            


YMAC’s Business Development Coordinator, Cris Olegario & YMAC’s Pilbara Regional Manager, Peter Jeffries.

On Australia Day the ‘Aboriginal Communities Charitable Organisation’ (ACCO) was presented with the Premier’s Active Citizenship Community Group Award for their contribution to the Pilbara community.

The ACCO is an excellent example of a regional organisation making a difference to the lives of Aboriginal people and is run by a volunteer staff base, most of whom are Indigenous.

As well as receiving public recognition from the Premier, the ACCO have also been approved for a Lotterywest grant for large commercial refrigerators for their food distribution outlet at TAFE’s Pundulmurra campus in South Hedland. The grant also includes a custom fitted ‘Commercial Kitchen Caravan’ to fully equip ACCO in their pursuit to deliver services to regional and remote communities in the Pilbara.

The Aboriginal Communities Charitable Organisation (ACCO) was formed in late 2008 as a non-profit charitable organisation to help ‘close the gap’ in local Indigenous communities. The idea came about from a common desire to make a difference to the lives of Aboriginal families living in Pilbara’s mining economy, where food and housing prices can be artificially high.

With the support and partnership of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Newcrest Mining and Foodbank the ACCO’s first primary project was the South Hedland Food Distribution Centre. The ACCO’s work aims to: 

• Create a sustainable food supply for families;
• Teach the community to grow food;
• Provide nutrition education; and
• Facilitate training and job placement.

To learn more about the ACCO and their work please contact, Cris Olegario, YMAC’s Community and Business Development Coordinator on (08) 9172 5433.

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.

The Pilbara Project – a new blog by FORM

Posted: February 23rd, 2010

Filed under: Pilbara

FORM have let us know about a blog site that is endeavouring to build a network associated with the Pilbara.

The Pilbara Project blog is a forum for observations from anyone, anywhere in the world, who has encountered the Pilbara, or recognises it in the places they have travelled to in their lives or in their minds. Ideally it will reach out to those who have moved on to other places or maybe they are just thinking about coming to the Pilbara.
Please encourage others to contribute…discussion around anything is appreciated, growing up in the Pilbara, fishing, the build form, the landscape, Aboriginal Art, the marine life, crazy nights, anything would be warmly received and when appropriate perhaps push it further afield to others that might have encountered the region.
http://www.thepilbaraproject.com/

YMAC’s Cris Olegario wins Australia Day Citizenship Award

Posted: January 29th, 2010

Filed under: ACCO, Pilbara, Staff

Congratulations to YMAC’s Business Development Officer, Cris Olegario in the South Hedland office, who on Tuesday 26 January, was presented with two awards in the Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Award.

Cris was awarded in two categories for his tireless work towards the Aboriginal Communities Charitable Organisation. 

The catergories were;
1) For an individual that is doing excellent services to the Indigenous community; and
2) For an organisation that is providing excellent services to the community.

YMAC’s Board of Directors, Management and staff congratulate Cris and thank him for his contribution to the Pilbara community.