Pilbara Traditional Owners Record Stories for Future Generations

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Photo: Toby Smirke with FTI film crew on Jurruru country

Earlier this month, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) spent time on country with Traditional Owners from the Pilbara region of Western Australia as part of an initiative to record stories about Australia’s unique Aboriginal cultural heritage. 

Indigenous Community Stories (ICS), run by FTI in partnership with Rio Tinto, ScreenWest, Leighton and Ngarda Civil and Mining, aims to digitally archive one hundred West Australian Indigenous stories on film for future generations to view over the next century and beyond. 

In the first of these stories, Kariyarra elder Irene Roberts talks about growing up around Abydos and Kangan stations, as well as her life in the Yandeyarra community. The second story, told by Jurruru elder Toby Smirke, focuses on the working life of Aboriginal people on pastoral stations, his family, and Jurruru connection to country. 

Mr Smirke said that he enjoyed making the film. ‘By the end of it I was happy with how it worked out, and I think it was all done right’, he said.

These projects follow on from another ICS project that YMAC supported in February about Geraldton-based artist and writer, Charmaine Green.

Click here to read about Charmaine's Indigenous Community Story.

For more information on the Indigenous Community Stories project, visit https://www.fti.asn.au/make/icstories

Indigenous Storybook, Midwest and Pilbara edition

The Public Health Advocacy Institute of WA is launching the third edition of their Indigenous Storybook at a celebration in Geraldton next week. The book showcases the achievements of Indigenous people who have contributed to health, social, economic and environmental outcomes for their communities.

The storybook includes 13 stories from the Mid-west and Pilbara regions, told by the people involved. They cover projects such as health and environmental issues, community gardens and employment, leadership and personal journeys.

The stories highlight issues that affect Indigenous communities across the Mid-West and Pilbara regions such tobacco awareness, substance abuse, crime prevention, sustaining culture and language and youth engagement.

For more information, and to download the previous editions, visit PHAIWA's website or email phaiwa@curtin.edu.au.

Yinhawangka People Sign Pilbara Native Title Agreement with Dragon Energy

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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.”

Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation Shortlisted for Social Enterprise Award

YMAC would like to congratulate Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation (AAC) for being shortlisted for Pro Bono Australia's inaugural Social Enterprise Awards.

'Ashoil', a commercial enterprise run by AAC, trains indigenous youth from the Pilbara region of Western Australian to convert waste cooking oil into biodiesel fuels. The initiative has been shortlisted in the 'Social Enterprise Innovation' category.

The Awards celebrate commercial ventures across all sectors of the Australian economy that deliver economic, social, cultural and environmental outcomes directly to the community.

Winners will be announced in Melbourne on Tuesday 28 May, 2013.

AAC aims to benefit Aboriginal people in the Pilbara through increasing employment and enterprise opportunities, and by providing education and training services.

Click here for more information about Ashoil, and here to see Pro Bono Australia's full Social Enterprise Awards shortlist.

For more information about AAC, please visit their website.

Upcoming Indigenous Career Development Workshops and Expos in the Pilbara

Are you interested in improving your career development skills?

The Bloodwood Tree Association is running a series of workshops and career expos in the Pilbara over the coming weeks which will enable Indigenous people to explore a range of career opportunities.

The Work Ready program, now in its second week, provides information on useful skills such as resume writing, financial management and career development. Workshops run 2-5 April 2013 and 7-11 April 2013.

Additionally, the Keys for Life workshop is a one-day 'C' Class Driver education program run every Thursday at the Bloodwood Tree main office in South Hedland.

For more information regarding the Work Ready and Keys for Life programs, contact Bloodwood Tree on (08) 9138 3000 or drop in to their office on 19 Hamilton Road, South Hedland.

The Hedland Career and Try-A-Trade Expo, held on Thursday 11 April 2013 at Hedland Senior High School, and the New Horizons Career Expo and Recruitment Drive, held on Tuesday 16 April 2013 at the Newman Recreation Centre, will provide students with the chance to explore career pathways and speak to representatives from many different professions.

The Bloodwood Tree Association is a non-for-profit Aboriginal corporation based in South Hedland that seeks to help the Indigenous community in a variety of ways, including employment programs, services for homeless people and substance abuse programs.

For more information on the Bloodwood Tree Association workshops and training programs, visit their website, email events@bloodwoodtree or phone (08) 9138 2019.

Grants for Pilbara community groups

Community groups in the Pilbara are now invited to apply for grants of up to $2000 from Easternwell, a mining and energy services company with operations in the Pilbara. Applications will be considered for projects that demonstrate long lasting benefits to the community in the areas of:

• Community
• Education and Training
• Health
• Indigenous
• Safety
• Youth

For more information and to apply go to http://www.easternwell.com.au/about-us/our-community/community-grants.html Applications close on 5 April 2013.

 

YMAC's Regional Director in Pilbara Exhibition

Are you interested in finding out more about life and culture in the Pilbara region of Western Australia?

Perth's FORM gallery is currently hosting Pilbara Stories, a photographic exhibition capturing the diversity and individuality of everyday Pilbara life.

The exhibition features YMAC's own Pilbara Regional Manager, Peter Jeffries, and is open now at the FORM gallery in Perth until 20 April 2013, and the Courthouse Gallery in Port Hedland from 15 February to 11 April 2013.

Pilbara Stories is part of FORM's ongoing 'Pilbara Project', which aims to encourage local people from the region to celebrate their own unique identity.

For more information, visit the Pilbara Stories website.

Yinhawangka People Sign Native Title Agreement with Rio Tinto

Yinhawangka Country

The Yinhawangka People of the Pilbara region of Western Australia have announced a major agreement with Rio Tinto.

The Yinhawangka People are the native title claimants and traditional custodians of approximately one million hectares of land and waters in the central Pilbara, including the mining town of Paraburdoo. The agreement covers Rio Tinto’s existing, current and future iron ore mining operations within Yinhawangka country and, importantly, establishes protocols for the protection of homeland communities and areas of special significance. This includes the exclusion of an area of outstanding cultural significance to the Yinhawangka People.

It provides a range of economic and non-economic benefits for the Yinhawangka People, including significant financial benefits from mining on their traditional country; special treatment of areas of high cultural significance; employment and training opportunities; support for Pilbara Aboriginal business development and contracting; and a collaborative approach to environmental and cultural heritage management.

Yinhawangka Traditional Owner, Darren Injie, said it had taken over twenty years of hard work for the Yinhawangka People to establish their homeland communities and reach today’s milestone.

“I want to acknowledge a lot of important people whose leadership contributed to this agreement, and who are no longer with us today. This wasn’t the work of one or two people, it’s been a community effort.  I also thank Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation; we would not have an agreement with this kind of scope and integrity without their ongoing support.”   

Click here to read the full media release.

Protection of Aboriginal Culture through Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park

A new marine park created to protect the natural and cultural values of the Pilbara's Eighty Mile Beach will for the first time in Western Australia include special recognition for sites of high Aboriginal cultural significance.

The Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park is the result of collaborative efforts between the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and Indigenous Traditional Owners who have worked together to ensure the protection of Aboriginal heritage in Western Australia.

The marine park will be jointly managed between DEC and Karajarri, Nyangumarta and Ngarla Traditional Owners, and will include special 'cultural heritage' zones acknowledging the existence of cultural values in the area.

Click here to read the full Ministerial media statement.

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YMAC Christmas Shutdown and Heritage Surveys

For many Aboriginal Communities in the Midwest and Pilbara, December to January is a special time of year to observe cultural obligations and practices.

Out of respect for these traditions, YMAC will not be conducting any heritage surveys between Monday 17 December 2012 and Friday 1 February 2013.

Any heritage survey requests received after 17 December will be scheduled to commence after 1 February.

Thank you for your understanding.

All YMAC offices in Perth, Geraldton, Karratha, South Hedland and Tom Price will be closed during the festive season from Thursday 20th December 2012, re-opening on Wednesday 2 January 2013.

YMAC’s Board of Directors, Pilbara and Yamatji Regional Committees, Management and Staff would like to wish you a happy and safe festive season.

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.

Native title agreement recognises the importance of water

Kurama and Marthudunera Traditional Owners Bernadette Evans, Roy Evans, Joan Evans and Cyril Lockyer with YMAC staff and IOH representatives

The Kurama and Marthudunera (K&M) native title group today announced the signing of an agreement with Iron Ore Holdings Ltd (IOH) over their Buckland Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

It is the Pilbara’s first native title agreement to provide payments in respect of the use of water and clearance of native vegetation, giving an incentive for IOH to minimise their impact on the environment. IOH also showed flexibility in planning their mine footprint in order to avoid any impact on culturally sensitive sites near the area.

In addition to strong cultural and environmental protection, the agreement provides milestone and production payments, which are now standard features of native title land access agreements.

Kurama and Marthudunera Traditional Owner, Cyril Lockyer said, “The important thing now is to continue our good working relationship. This area is of great significance to the families involved and we want to work closely with Iron Ore Holdings to see these sensitive places protected.”

“This unique agreement is due to the genuine good-will and flexibility shown by both parties, and recognises the cultural and environmental significance of the area for the Traditional Owners. It goes well beyond the requirements of the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act by recognising that water and habitat are inextricably linked to cultural values,” said Simon Hawkins, CEO of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation.

Legal win for the Ngarla people

YMAC is very pleased by a Federal Court decision earlier this week stating that the BHP Mt. Goldsworthy mining leases do not permanently extinguish the Ngarla people's native title.

Click here to listen to an interview with YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins about the decision on ABC Radio Australia.

Click to read more about the decision on ABC News.

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.

Tickets Still Available for 2012 Peacock Masquerade Charity Ball

The Bloodwood Tree Associationg would like to invite you to the 2012 Peacock Masquerade Annual Ball, being held this Saturday 27th October 2012 at the Wanangkura Stadium in South Hedland.

The ball is a charity event raising funds for suicide prevention programs in the Pilbara region, with all proceeds going to the Healthy Minds Community Group in Hedland.

The evening will feature entertainment by local band Brad Hall and the Bad Influence, former AFL star Heath Black, a live auction, raffles and fine dining.

Prizes will be awarded for Belle and Beau of the Ball, Most Creative Outfit and many more, so come dressed in your best!

For tickets, please contact Tiffany Turland at events@bloodwoodtree.org.au or (08) 9138 3000.

The Bloodwood Tree Association is a not-for-profit Aboriginal corporation based in South Hedland that seeks to help the Indigenous community in a variety of ways, including employment programs, services for homeless people and substance abuse programs.

For further information on the Bloodwood Tree Association, please visit their website: http://www.bloodwoodtree.org.au/

YMAC contributes to Indigenous Community Stories

YMAC recently applied, and has been selected, the ‘Indigenous Community Story’ initiative through the Film & Television Institute (FTI) in partnership with Rio Tinto, ScreenWest, Leighton and Ngarda Civil & Mining.

The two Indigenous Community Story Projects that have been successfully selected include, ‘A snapshot of the rich cultural heritage of the Pilbara region told by four senior elders’ and ‘The historical significance of Aboriginal stockman and their connection to country; told through the eyes and life of respected senior Jurruru elder, Toby Smirke.’

The two stories will be filmed on country in early 2013 and aim to digitally archive stories for future generations to view over the next 100 years and beyond. Click here for more information on the Indigenous Community Stories project.

Storytellers Wanted to Help Raise Public Health Profile in WA

Do you have a story about a someone who has made significant contributions to health, social affairs and the environment in their community?

The Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia (PHAIWA) is currently putting together its third edition of the WA Indigenous Storybook, and is looking for storytellers to contribute. The project aims to influence how public health projects are planned and carried out in Western Australia, and encourages people to share stories about those making positive change in regional communities. This edition will focus on the Wheatbelt and Pilbara Regions of WA.

If you would like help telling your story, PHAIWA has developed a 'story framework' to assist in this process, which can be accessed from the PHAIWA website. Mentors can also be arranged to help you write or tell your story.

The first and second editions of this storybook, which focus on the Perth, Peel, and Kimberley Regions of WA, can also be downloaded here.

PHAIWA is an independent public health organisation based within Curtin University, which aims to raise the profile and understanding of public health in Western Australia.

Native Title Stories: Diane Stewart

YMAC would like to welcome Diane Stewart as the latest member of our Board of Directors. Ms Stewart is a Nyangumarta woman from the East Pilbara who loves spending time on country. Watch her video below to hear her stories about country, family and culture.

Diane Stewart, YMAC Director.

This is the third in a series of interviews with our Committee and Board Members, in which they share their stories of country and culture. See previous interviews with Yamatji Directors Ben Roberts and Susan Oakley.

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

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.