Celebrate NAIDOC week!

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 

Registrations Still Open for 2013 Welcome to Hedland Community Expo

There are still a couple of days left to register your organisation, group or business to take part in the 2013 Welcome to Hedland Community Expo, which takes place Friday 17 May from 5pm to 9pm at the South Hedland Town Centre.

The expo is an annual celebration of the Hedland region, giving community groups and businesses the chance to to connect with new residents and existing locals, with this year's event shaping up to be the most exciting yet.

If you would like to host a stall, perform or do a demo at the expo, go to the Town of Port Hedland website or download a registration form here. For more information, call (08) 9158 9660.

Registrations close this Friday, 3 May.

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.

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 Congratulates Janet Stewart for NAIDOC Award!

YMAC would like to extend a big congratulations to Janet Stewart, who was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Hedland NAIDOC Awards two weekends ago for her work mentoring Aboriginal chidlren.

Mrs Stewart is Nyangumarta woman and local teacher at South Hedland Primary School, where she teaches traditional language.

She has also helped to establish Nyangumarta dictionaries through the Wangka Maya Aboriginal Language Centre, and is strongly involved in several Indigenous women's organisations such as the Mothers of Australia Shed, Pilbara Indigenous Women’s Aboriginal Corporation and Mothers Against Drugs.

We also congratulate all other nominees, finalists and award winners.

For more information about NAIDOC week 2012, visit the NAIDOC website.

Computers available for low income families in the Pilbara

Families in Karratha, Roebourne, Wickham, South Hedland and Port Hedland can now apply to the Smith Family to receive a refurbished home computer, a four-week basic computer training course, and a year of internet access, all for free.

The Smith Family’s Technology Packs initiative, in partnership with Royalties for Regions and BHP Billiton, was designed to provide families with a computer connected to the internet at home at an affordable cost. To be eligible, families must have school aged children, have proof of low income status (health care or pension concession card), and not already own a home computer.

The Smith Family is a children's charity that helps disadvantaged children. Click here to learn more about the Smith Family.

The "Tech Pack Project" aims to improve community digital literacy, equipping children and their families who may otherwise not be able to afford computers, with the technological skills that are now prerequisites for participation in lifelong learning and social inclusion.

According to the Smith Family, research shows that access to ICT (information, communication and technology) can increase study and employment opportunities for parents and young people, improve the capacity of parents to support children at school, increase the engagement of children at school, and improve individual’s self-esteem and overall wellbeing.

To find out more about the Tech Packs Project, or to register for a computer, contact Daphne Trevurza or Carol Warren (Karratha) on 9144 1854 or tsfkarratha@thesmithfamily.com.au,  or Nia Hadenfeldt  (Hedland) on 9172 2408 or tsfhedland@thesmithfamily.com.au

Marnti Warajanga exhibition touring the Pilbara

Nyangumarta boys taking their first steps on country as recognised native title holders, 11 June 2009. Photograph by Tobias Titz

Marnti Warajanga- a Walk Together is an exhibition of photographs and stories that will be touring Pilbara communities this May and June. Showcasing the photographs of Tobias Titz, including many images of the Nyangumarta people's native title determination in 2009, the exhibition has been on display at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in Canberra.

As the project tours the Pilbara it will also include photography workshops and community celebrations along with a redeveloped version of the exhibition.  The Marnti Warajanga Pilbara tour dates for exhibitions and workshops are:

• 3-4 May, Hedland Senior High School
• 7-8 May, South Hedland Primary School
• 9-10 May, Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre (community BBQ on 9 May)
• 14-16 May, Strelley Remote Community School (community BBQ on 19 May)
• 21-24 May, Yandeyarra Remote Community School (community BBQ on 23 May)
• 28-29 May, Newman Senior High School
• 30 May, South Newman Primary School
• 31 May, Newman Primary School (community BBQ on 31 May)
• 5-7 June, Jigalong Remote Community School (community BBQ on 7 June)

Everyone is welcome to participate in the different events by trying some yandying, taking the children’s trail or having their portrait taken at the photographic workshop.

The exhibition will also be on display in Perth before heading north, from 13-30 April in Central Park.

For more information and to view some of the photographs visit the Marnti Warajanga page at the Museum of Australian Democracy's website.

National Close the Gap Day, 22 March 2012

National Close the Gap Day is a day for all Australians to join together and remind our political leaders that despite their commitments to close the life expectancey gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, there is a lot of work left to be done.

The National Close the Gap Day focus for 2012 is on the need for genuine, meaningful partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health peoples at all stages of health planning and delivery.

There are events on all around the country this week, including these free public events:

Live healthy Live longer Closing the Gap

• When : Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:30 to 11:00
• Where : 2-34 Colebatch Way, SOUTH HEDLAND, WA

Closing the Gap 2012: Have A Go Day

• When : Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:00 to 03:00
• Where : Egan Street, CARNARVON, WA

For more information on these and other Close the Gap Day events visit:

http://webfw.oxfam.org.au/act/events/close-the-gap-day/attend?g=1&f=wa

2011 Annual Regional Meetings

Yamatji Committee Deputy Chair Roy Belotti and Chair Peter Windie

The 2011 Annual Regional Meetings (ARMs) were held in Meekatharra on November 19 and South Hedland on November 26. All YMAC members were invited to attend to vote on a number of resolutions and to raise any questions about YMAC’s operations.

Unfortunately, a loss in the Meekatharra community meant that it was not possible for many members to attend the meeting on 19 November.

YMAC staff, Regional Committee members, and the members present at the meeting offered their sincere condolences to the family of the man who had recently passed away.

There were seven vacant positions on the Yamatji Regional Committee, and the following people were elected:

Gloria Fogarty

Victor Mourambine

Ron Simpson

Pam Mongoo

Paul Baron

Kathleen Musulin

Deceased Person

At a special Yamatji Regional Committee Meeting held immediately after the ARM, Paul Baron was re-elected to the vacant position on the Board of Directors.

Peter Windie and Roy Bellotti were re-elected unopposed as Chair and Deputy Chair respectively.

Sadly, since his election, one of the Yamatji Regional Committee members has passed away. The YMAC staff, Board and Committee members offer condolences and sympathy to the family of the deceased.

The Pilbara ARM was well attended and accepted the Nyangumarta people’s decision to appoint Dianne Stewart as their representative on the Regional Committee, replacing David Wright. The Committee thanked Mr. Wright for his long service.

NAIDOC profile: Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre

Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre is a language centre in South Hedland dedicated to preserving and teaching Indigenous languages of the Pilbara region. It began in 1987 when a group of Aboriginal people started recording languages that they feared were in danger of being forgotten. From its modest beginnings it has grown into a vibrant organisation with a wide range of projects and an impressive workload.

Wangka Maya's work is driven by the urgency to record languages with few speakers before they are lost forever. “Wangka Maya’s work is very important … recording and documenting 31 languages, some with only a handful of speakers left. We have to have it on record, or else the language will be totally lost. If there are no more speakers left, how will the younger generations know how it sounds?” said Harry Taylor, current treasurer of Wangka Maya.

This sense of urgency has led Wangka Maya to prioritise languages with the fewest remaining speakers, producing wordlists and dictionaries, followed by sketch grammars which describe the use and structure of the language, and over the years, more books and resources for children.

Beyond language, Wangka Maya also records information and produces resources in the areas of history and culture, provides cultural awareness training and participates in a range of community partnerships and initiatives to promote understanding of and interest in Aboriginal language, culture and history. Wangka Maya also reconnects Pilbara and Gascoyne Aboriginal people to their families who have lost contact due to government action or other issues through the Link Up program.

Anne Sibosado, long time board member of Wangka Maya, feels a personal connection with the work of the language centre. “Growing up I wasn’t allowed to speak language in school, but it’s important to your identity. Being involved [with Wangka Maya] has helped me get my identity back… I hope the younger people will come to use [Wangka Maya’s resources], because they are our future. We want more young people to come aboard,” said Anne.

Harry Taylor believes that, “the wider Australian community is recognising language diversity more and accepting it more,” and Australia is a richer place for that.

Wangka Maya is offering a free cultural awareness training course on 7 July for NAIDOC week. For more information please visit www.wangkamaya.org.au or call 9172 2344.

Across Australia every July, NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In honour of NAIDOC 2011 YMAC is featuring a series of Aboriginal people and organisations that contribute to the vibrant Aboriginal culture of the Midwest and Pilbara. For more information on NAIDOC including its history and events happening near you, visit http://www.naidoc.org.au/ .

Pilbara Indigenous Health Services Win Commonwealth Support

Three Aboriginal Health Centres in the Pilbara have been successful in securing grants from the federal government, the Minister for Indigenous Health announced yesterday.

The goal of the funding is to help Aboriginal Health Organisations achieve accreditation under Australian quality standards.

For the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation in Jigalong and the Pilbara Indigenous Women's Aboriginal Corporation and Bloodwood Tree, both located in South Hedland, this means funding for things like training, office equipment, medical equipment and the accreditation fees.

YMAC congratulates these three Pilbara Aboriginal health organisations on their successful grant applications and on their ongoing work to improve the health and quality of life for the Pilbara Aboriginal community.