Download YMAC News issue 20

The latest issue of YMAC News is now available for download.

It is full of stories about some of the accomplishments in our regions over the last few months. Agreements have been made between the Ngarlawangga people and Montezuma Mining Company Ltd, and the Kurama and Marthudunera people and Iron Ore Holdings Ltd, that are both notable for different reasons.

You can read about the Geraldton native title groups coming together to work towards an Alternative Settlement, and a meeting between Pilbara indigenous women and African women in mining.

We have several new members of our Yamatji Regional Committee and the Board of Directors, and we profile one of them, Beverley Ladyman.

The Badimia people won a battle in the National Native Title Tribunal to help protect one of their most sacred sites, and the Nyiyaparli people have discovered a site that was occupied 41,000 year ago while out on a heritage survey for a mining company.

We also answer one of our most frequently asked question, 'Why does native title take so long?'

Click here to dowload YMAC News issue 20.

If you have any stories or photos 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.

41,000 year-old Pilbara Aboriginal Site to be Protected



Photo Courtesy of Fortescue Metals Group

Nyiyaparli Traditional Owners from the Pilbara region of Western Australia, today announced the oldest occupation dates ever found in the region. Working with archaeologists from the heritage company Archae-aus, the Nyiyaparli Heritage Sub-Committee and Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation have revealed that charcoals found while excavating a rock shelter are more than 41,000 years old, according to carbon-dating analysis.

Nyiyaparli elder and Heritage Sub-Committee member David Stock said, “We feel proud that this evidence of our ancestors has been found and are happy it will be protected. This kind of work shows Australians that our heritage is very important and that it can be protected”.

Nyiyaparli elder and Heritage Sub-Committee member Gordon Yuline said “We have to keep the caves to show the young people how the old people used to live. It is very important we protect these places and we are able to go there and teach the young ones.”

The shelter site would be protected by a buffer zone and that Nyiyaparli Traditional Owners have requested further research be carried out at the important site.

Click here to read the full media release.

YMAC News issue 19 is here!

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

It includes a cover story on the visit the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples made to Njamal country, a special feature on Geraldton Aboriginal community organisations, and a landmark agreement between the Nyiyaparli people and BHP Billiton.

There is also a profile of Yamatji artist, poet and academic Charmaine Green, as well as a staff profile of Fiona Mackenzie, our Geraldton office manager. There is important information on YMAC's heritage services, information about YMAC's recent audit by the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC), and of course lots of photos of people and country.

Click here to download YMAC News from our website.

If you have any stories or photos 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.

Nyiyaparli people sign major iron ore mining agreement

The Nyiyaparli people of the Pilbara region of WA have announced that they have entered into a major mining agreement with BHP Billiton Iron Ore (BHPBIO). The agreement covers all of BHPBIO's iron ore operations within the Nyiyaparli people's native title claim and offers substantial heritage protection, financial benefits, and non-financial benefits to the Nyiyaparli people.

Click here to download the full media release from our website.

YMAC congratulates the Nyiyaparli people on the successful negotiations.

Check out issue 14 of YMAC News

The latest issue of YMAC News is out today, filled with information about the great work being done by traditional owners and YMAC staff. Issue14 of our newsletter focuses on the land access deals struck between four native title groups and Rio Tinto Iron Ore, with sections on each group and what the agreements will mean for them.

There are stories about  our co-chair of the Board talking about carbon farming in Canberra, the realease of YMAC's community guide, the substantial role played by YMAC at the annual National Native Title Conference, as well as profiles of some of our board members.

We hope you enjoy the 14th issue of YMAC News.
Click the link below for an electronic version or email srosenfeld@ymac.org.au to request hard copies for yourself, your family, your business or workplace.

YMAC News issue 14

Meet a YMAC Director

Natalie Parker

Natalie is a Nyiyaparli woman from the central Pilbara region who is well known in the community for her leadership capacity.  Natalie represents her community on the board of the Gumula Aboriginal Corporation, Gumula Enterprises Pty Ltd, Meta Maya Aboriginal Corporation as well as being the first female co-chair of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC).


Natalie’s enjoys camping on country and spending quality time with her grandchildren. Her aspirations for the future include improvements in health, education and economic opportunities for Aboriginal people, and to see recognition of culture and a strong future for all.

Nyiyaparli Sign Agreement for Iron Valley Project

In Tom Price this week, the Nyiyaparli people signed a Land Access Deed with Iron Ore Holdings Ltd (IOH) that delivers important protection for country and support to the Iron Valley project.


Nyiyaparli country is situated in the central Pilbara region of Western Australia and covers approximately 36,684 square kilometres of land, including the mining town of Newman.


The agreement, which covers the Iron Valley project, provides a range of benefits to the Nyiyaparli people including contracting opportunities, cross cultural awareness training for IOH employees and a rigorous framework for agreement implementation. More importantly the agreement provides for consultation on environmental and heritage matters, which allows the Nyiyaparli people to retain their rights under Aboriginal heritage and environment legislation in order to protect areas of cultural and environmental significance.


The Nyiyaparli people, represented by Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC), are now looking to build upon the spirit of cooperation and good faith they developed with IOH during the agreement negotiation process.


Simon Hawkins, CEO, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, said the agreement was an example of a mining company working cooperatively and negotiating in good faith with Traditional Owners. “The Nyiyaparli people appreciated the company’s willingness to sit down and negotiate with the group. The next step is to build on this relationship and see the agreement successfully implemented.”