Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation

Celebrate NAIDOC week!

Posted: July 8th, 2013

Filed under: Aboriginal Art, Bundiyarra, Geraldton, Indigenous Arts, Indigenous Community Stories, Karratha, NAIDOC, Ngarluma & Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963, YMAC

NAIDOC week is now well underway, and celebrations are happening all over Australia. The theme for 2013 is “We value the vision: Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963”.  The theme proudly celebrates the 50th anniversary of the presentation of the Yirrkala Bark Petitions to the Federal Parliament. To read more about the significance of these petitions visit the official NAIDOC website.

There are a huge number of events going on across the Yamatji and Pilbara regions to celebrate NAIDOC this week. Check your local paper for a listing of events. Some highlights will be the Ngarluma & Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd’s football carnival in Roebourne this weekend, free community events featuring food and music in Karratha on Friday and Sunday, and the NAIDOC awards celebration in South Hedland on Saturday, to name just a few.

YMAC has already been celebrating NAIDOC, with stalls at the Tom Price and Perth opening ceremonies on Sunday, as well as last week’s Bundiyarra cultural celebrations in Geraldton.

If you are in Karratha or South Hedland this week come say hello to YMAC staff at the community events on there.

Dawn service to commemorate 100 years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Veterans in Service. 7 July 2013

YMAC stall at Bundiyarra cultural celebrations in Geraldton. 3 July 2013 

YMAC Congratulates Les Hill for Works Showcased in 2013 Good Heart Art

Posted: June 14th, 2013

Filed under: Good Heart 2013, Indigenous Arts, Les Hill, Mid West, Mullewa, Murchison., Oakajee Port and Rail Good Heart Aboriginal Art Project, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, YMAC

YMAC would like to congratulate one of our Community Liaison Officers, Les Hill, for being chosen to exhibit his artwork in the 2013 Good Heart Mid-West Art Exhibition, which finishes up in Perth this evening.

His collection of pieces reflects the everlasting wildflowers unique to his home town of Mullewa and the Murchison River.

This has been Good Heart Art’s sixth exhibition sponsored by Oakajee Port and Rail, and almost 200 pieces from over 50 new and established mid-west artists were showcased.
For more information on this year’s event, visit the Good Heart website.

If you would like to know more about Les and other YMAC Community Liaison Officers, read our blog post from March this year.

Happy Reconciliation Week from YMAC

Posted: May 31st, 2013

Filed under: First Australians, National Reconciliation Week, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, YMAC

YMAC would like to wish everyone a very happy Reconciliation Week, an event which celebrates the rich culture and history of the First Australians.

For more information on National Reconciliation Week, please visit http://www.reconciliation.org.au/home

YMAC welcomes newly elected Yamatji Chairperson: Mr Victor Mourambine

Posted: May 30th, 2013

Filed under: native title, Order of Australia, Victor Mourambine, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Yamatji Regional Committee, Yamatji., YMAC, YMAC Board of Directors

YMAC would like to welcome Mr Victor Mourambine, who has recently been elected as the new Yamatji Chairperson to our Board of Directors.

Victor is a Wajarri man from Northampton who has very deep ties to the region, and is grateful for the opportunities he has had to help his people.

He has a long history of working with the Aboriginal community, on the Commission of Elders at state and regional level, and through the Department of Justice helping prisoners. His work with Aboriginal prisoners earned him the Order of Australia.

Victor’s work in native title is motivated by a desire to gain recognition for traditional owners. He wants to carry on the fight of elders who have passed before they were able to gain legal recognition of their country and culture.

To learn more about Victor’s life and experiences of native title in Australia, please see the video below.

Badimia People sign Native Title Agreement with Top Iron

Posted: May 23rd, 2013

Filed under: Badimia, Extension Hill, Midwest, Mummaloo Project, Native Title Agreements, Simon Hawkins, Top Iron, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation

Click to enlarge L-R: Greg Knox (Top Iron), Nick Revell (Top Iron), Badimia Traditional Owner Frank Walsh Jnr., Bruce Richardson (Top Iron), Kevin Stemp (Top Iron), with YMAC claim lawyer Paul Avina.

The Badimia People, Traditional Owners of land in the Midwest region of Western Australia, are pleased to announce they have entered into an agreement with Top Iron Pty Ltd. The agreement paves the way for the iron ore miners to develop their Greater Mummaloo Project in Badimia country, near the existing Extension Hill project.

The Badimia people will benefit from preferential contracting opportunities and employment targets on the project, as well as financial compensation linked to the project’s production. The company has also agreed to hand over all housing units and light vehicles to the Badimia people at the end of the project, further enhancing opportunities for Badimia businesses.

The agreement also includes several provisions to protect and promote Badimia culture and heritage, including heritage survey protocols, Badimia cultural awareness workshops for Top Iron employees, and avoidance of certain areas that are important to Badimia cultural heritage.

Badimia working group member Frank Walsh Jnr. said of the agreement, ‘Badimia people have once again shown that they can reach agreements like this with mining companies in our region and that we are quite supportive of those companies who totally respect and understand our Badimia people and culture.

‘At the end of the day it is about empowering our people and communities. The financial aspects of these agreements are important, but the economic and employment opportunities, as well as heritage protections that arise out of these agreements, are also very significant’.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) CEO Simon Hawkins said, ‘The agreement was reached swiftly, after Top Iron made efforts to develop a positive relationship with the Badimia people before the formal negotiations began.

‘The company made an effort to understand the community’s aspirations and concerns, so the negotiations went very smoothly and only took two formal meetings. This has laid the foundations for a good relationship between both parties for the future of the agreement’.

Yinhawangka People Sign Pilbara Native Title Agreement with Dragon Energy

Posted: May 10th, 2013

Filed under: Dragon Energy, Gang Xu, Hardey River., Pilbara, Pilbara Iron Project, Roma Butcher, Simon Hawkins, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Yinhawangka

Click to Enlarge Yinhawangka Community Members with Representatives from Dragon Energy and YMAC

The Yinhawangka people recently announced a native title agreement with Dragon Energy, paving the way for its flagship Pilbara Iron Project.

Under the agreement, Yinhawangka consent to all activities associated with the development of an iron ore mine at Dragon’s Rocklea Central and North deposits. It also allows for further mining leases within the area.

The Agreement follows 12 months of constructive consultation and covers milestone and production payments, employment opportunities as well as cross-cultural exchanges and consultation on environmental matters.

Yinhawangka representative Roma Butcher said, “It was a pleasure doing business with Dragon Energy. Dragon’s General Manager Gang Xu was so easy to talk to and clearly has a huge respect for Yinhawangka People.

“I feel that Dragon worked with us respectfully and understood things we had to say about the Country, the flora and fauna, and how these things are important for us, our community and our health. Dragon Energy had empathy for what we are trying to achieve, and that meant that in return we also wanted to work with them. Maybe some of the Chinese cultural values that Gang Xu brought to our meetings were similar and led to understandings of our Aboriginal culture.

“Our flora and fauna are very important to us – as our Country is – and it’s good to know that Dragon Energy respects that, and respects our knowledge of the Country and the river system, and have agreed to include Yinhawangka People in ongoing environmental management.”

Dragon Energy’s Managing Director, Mr Gang Xu, commented that the parties had developed an excellent working relationship and looked forward to this continuing with the development of Pilbara Iron Project.

“Our negotiations with the Yinhawangka People have been based upon a strong mutual respect and have focussed on achieving outcomes that will benefit of both parties.

“We look forward to working with the group to develop our Pilbara Iron Project and at the same time provide opportunities to the Yinhawangka community and preserve their heritage and customs.”

Simon Hawkins, CEO, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation said, “Dragon Energy listened to concerns the Yinhawangka People had regarding impact to the Hardey River and have put in place an ongoing program to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge. Both parties showed great flexibility which has led to a strong relationship.”

Yugunga-Nya People Sign Native Title Agreement with Ventnor Resources

Posted: April 30th, 2013

Filed under: Bruce Maluish, Doolgunna, Evelyn Gilla., Green Dragon Copper Project, Murchison., Simon Hawkins, Thaduna, Ventnor Resources, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Yugunga-Nya

The Yugunga-Nya People, Traditional Owners of land within the Eastern Murchison region of Western Australia, have announced the signing of an agreement with Australian base metals company Ventnor Resources Limited (Ventnor) for the Thaduna/Green Dragon Copper Project over 640 hectares of their traditional country in Doolgunna Western Australia.

The agreement recognises the cultural and environmental significance of the area for Traditional Owners and aims to deliver significant financial and social outcomes to the Yugunga-Nya People through commercial and community development opportunities.

Yugunga-Nya Traditional Evelyn Gilla said, ‘I am happy that this agreement was signed. The
company was friendly, and it was a good agreement for Yugunga-Nya people’

Ventnor Managing Director Bruce Maluish responded, ‘we at Ventnor extend our appreciation
to the Yugunga-Nya People for the goodwill they have exhibited throughout our negotiations
that have culminated in this important agreement. Ventnor looks forward to working with the
group in the future’.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) CEO Simon Hawkins said, ‘This agreement
shows what can be achieved when companies are open from the outset. The mutual
cooperation throughout negotiations meant this agreement was finalised within a short
timeframe and both parties were happy with the result’.

Yamatji Special Regional Meeting

Posted: March 27th, 2013

Filed under: Geraldton, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Yamatji Special Regional Meeting, YMAC

YMAC’s Community Liaison Officers in this month’s edition of Mulga Mail

Posted: March 19th, 2013

Filed under: Carrum Mourambine, Community Liaison Officer, Coralie Cooke, Daniel Shiosaki, Jerry Maher, Les Hill, Michael Gosper, Mulga Mail, Nyaparu Rose, Victor Woodley, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, YMAC

Mulga Mail recently ran a short piece outlining the role and responsibilities of YMAC’s Community Liaison Officers (CLOs).

YMAC’s CLOs are:
Geraldton: Daniel Shiosaki, Carrum Mourambine and Les Hill
Karratha: Michael Gosper
South Hedland: Nyaparu Rose and Jerry Maher
South Hedland/Tom Price: Coralie Cooke and Victor Woodley

Click to Enlarge

For more information about YMAC’s work structure, please visit www.ymac.org.au