YMAC's Co-Chair Speaks at International Mining Conference

YMAC would like to congratulate our Co-Chairperson, Mrs Doris Eaton, who attended the International Mining for Development Conference yesterday in Sydney.

Mrs Eaton was invited to speak on a panel alongside Ms Katherine Heller from the World Bank, Dr Helen Szoke Chief Executive of Oxfam Australia, and Ms Ume Wainetti, Program Coordinator of the Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee in Papua New Guinea.

Discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities that arise from mining for developing communities across the world, with particular emphasis on how women from these communities can access and make use of mining benefits.

Delegates at the Conference came from over 60 nations.

Please click here to listen to Mrs Eaton's interview with SBS Radio following the Conference.

For more information, visit the International Mining for Development Centre website.

Pilbara women meet African women in mining



photo courtesy AAPF / AusAID

 

Last week, senior women from Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation met with a visiting delegation of women involved in mining and development issues from various nations across Africa.

 

The delegation included representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Madagascar and Mozambique. The group visited the Pilbara as part of a Mining Study Tour funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). Organisers of the tour included the International Mining for Development Centre and the Australia-Africa Partnerships Facility.

 

The women came together in Karratha to share their experiences working with the mining industry at local, regional and national levels.  They also discussed significant expansion of the mining, and oil and gas industries in Africa, the long history of mining on traditional Aboriginal country in the Pilbara and the challenge of channelling the benefits of these industries into sustainable community development.

 

Njamal elder and Co-Chair of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Mrs Doris Eaton, said the meeting was an excellent opportunity to learn more about women leading their communities in Africa, and share the experiences of mining and development in the Pilbara.

YMAC Co-Chair speaks in the national media about the future of Njamal country

The Njamal people of the Pilbara region of WA welcomed a visit by United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya on their country last week. Professor Anaya visited the site of a joint venture between the Njamal people and Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), the North Star Project.

 

The Njamal People and FMG entered into an agreement in December 2011 that will protect significant cultural sites and lead to the creation of a joint venture to run a mining operation on an orebody adjacent to FMG’s proposed North Star mine.

During the visit, YMAC Co-Chair and Njamal elder Mrs. Doris Eaton spoke to Fairfax media about the joint venture and what it means for Njamal people and country.





Read the full story in the Sydney Morning Herald here.

Professor Anaya had the opportunity to meet with the Njamal people and representatives of FMG to learn more about this unique land access agreement. He also visited significant Njamal heritage sites, including rock art complexes, and spoke with the Njamal people about the effect that mining has had on their community.

“I’m grateful to the Njamal people for the opportunity to meet with them on their country, along with representatives of FMG, and learn about a unique and potentially beneficial arrangement with the mining industry”, Professor Anaya said.

Mrs Eaton said “This trip was a good opportunity to show Professor Anaya and the wider community what the Njamal People have achieved through our agreement with FMG. It is important that people see the beauty of our country first hand so that we can all work together to protect our culture, heritage and stories

Download YMAC News issue 17

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.

YMAC features on International Documentary

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