Badimia People sign Native Title Agreement with Top Iron

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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

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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.”

Yugunga-Nya People Sign Native Title Agreement with Ventnor Resources

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’.

Ngarlawangga People and Montezuma Sign Agreement South of Newman

The Ngarlawangga native title group today announced the signing of an agreement with Montezuma Mining Company Ltd (Montezuma) for the Butcherbird manganese project over 23,000 hectares of their traditional country, south of Newman, as well as consents to future mining in the area.

The agreement has seen Traditional Owners and Montezuma develop a framework for how they will continue working with each other, including assisting Ngarlawangga people into employment, agreed processes and timeframes by which heritage clearances will take place and support for tendering for new contracts for community businesses.

The signing includes an agreed process should the mining company apply for permission to disturb heritage sites, which provides both parties with a guaranteed consultation process under the Aboriginal Heritage Act (WA).

Ngarlawangga Traditional Owner Dianne Limerick said, “The discussions with Montezuma went well - we’re now hoping for jobs and business contracts to develop from this agreement.”

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) CEO Simon Hawkins said, "Montezuma listened and responded to the community's needs throughout the process. In turn, the Ngarlawangga people were able to reach agreement quickly, giving the company certainty. Both parties are particularly focused on supporting new and existing Ngarlawangga contracting companies to benefit from this project, including incentives for community businesses".

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.

2012 Annual Report now available for download

YMAC is proud to release our Annual Report for the 2011/12 financial year. In addition to our complete financial statements, the report also contains many highlights from the year, a message from the CEO, a report from the Board of Directors and many beautiful pictures of country.

Click here to download our Annual Report from our website or email srosenfeld@ymac.org.au to request a hard copy.

YMAC speaks out on proposed reforms

The Minister for Indigenous Affairs has today released a discussion paper on proposed changes to the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.

There has been no formal consultation on the proposed changes so far, including with Aboriginal people. Now there are just five weeks for the general public to comment on the proposals.

It is YMAC's view that the proposals focus too much on the approval process for industry and not enough on improving processes for the effective conservation and protection of Aboriginal heritage sites.

Simon Hawkins, YMAC CEO said today, "Aboriginal people are not just another set of stakeholders. This is their heritage and they deserve an opportunity to provide meaningful input into the reform process. I am sceptical about the current process and of course the short timeframe will not allow for those negatively affected to have their say."

“For Traditional Owners, the current Act is more a licence to destroy heritage than a mechanism to protect it. These proposals will only reinforce this view.”

Click here to download YMAC's full media release.

Click here for the Department of Indigenous Affairs Discussion Paper

Agreement focuses on sustainability

Ngarlawangga community members, YMAC staff and Rico Resources representatives at the agreement signing



The Ngarlawangga people have announced an agreement with Rico Resources over their Wonmunna project within the Ngarlawangga native title claim.

The agreement focuses on building a relationship between the parties to develop sustainable, long-term business and employment opportunities for the Ngarlawangga community. It is based on shared objectives of employment and contracts for Ngarlawangga people on Rico Resources projects.  

To this end, a skills audit of the Ngarlawangga community is being undertaken to help community members identify and access opportunities for training, employment, and business ventures.

The agreement includes financial compensation to the Ngarlawangga people, and recognises the importance of Aboriginal culture and the Ngarlawangga people’s responsibility to care for their heritage sites. It also provides Rico Resources with all of the native title approvals needed for their Wonmunna Project.

“Rico resources have listened to us and we have listened to them. We have a good relationship with RICO even though we are a small group and they are a small company," said Ngarlawangga elder Maisey Hyland.

Ngarlawangga elder Dianne Limerick said, "In the short while we have been negotiating with Rico Resources we made a lot of progress and we are happy and pleased that we have signed an agreement together"

Simon Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC), said, “Rico Resources has adopted a relationship-based approach to these negotiations, and this agreement is designed to help the Ngarlawangga people meet their aspirations as a community. The company has shown their commitment to these goals by implementing the skills audit before the agreement was even signed. This mining agreement is about both parties supporting each other for years to come.”

2010/11 YMAC Annual Report now available

YMAC is proud to release our Annual Report for the 2010-11 financial year. In addition to our complete financial statements, the report also contains many highlights from the year, a message from the CEO, a report from the Board of Directors and many beautiful pictures of country.

Click here to download our Annual Report from our website or email srosenfeld@ymac.org.au to request a hard copy.

YMAC CEO in WA Business News

This week, YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins, features on page 21 of WA Business News.

The article entitled 'Travel Talk' features Simon's chosen travel destinations and covers some of his favourite places, including Karijini National Park, Weld Range, Coral Bay and 80 Mile Beach.

Click here for a pdf of the article

YMAC makes national and international news headlines!

 

Gordon Yuline, Nyiyaparli elder, signs agreement

YMAC, and Pilbara traditional owners, have received unprecedented media coverage in state, national and international media regarding the recent signing of historical agreements with Rio Tinto.

The news hit the headlines on Friday, 3 June, continued over the weekend and into the week of 6 June. The story, and YMAC's CEO, Simon Hawkins, featured in the following major media outlets;

Television: BBC International News, ABC 7pm news, ABC 24 6pm news, GWN and WIN 6pm news

Newspapers: Front page of the West Australia and Australian newspapers, also featured in Australian Financial Review, The Age, Canberra Times, Sydney Morning Herald, plus 12 other national regional papers. Will also appear in WA regional and Indigenous newspapers the week of 6 June.

Radio: BBC radio, ABC national and regional radio, SBS radio, Sky Business, 6PR, 96FM, 94.5FM, and national radio across Australia.

Keep and eye out for more great news stories coming up for YMAC, and the traditional owners we represent, in 2011!

YMAC CEO in Saturday's West Australian

Last weekend's West Australian newspaper featured a letter to the editor from YMAC's CEO Simon Hawkins. The letter was in response to recent media attention on native title agreements, and points out that there are many positive outcomes when resource companies genuinely engage with native title groups.

 

Click here to read the full letter, titled "Benefits to native title groups".