Country, Culture, People, Future

December 2018

Lock Hospital Centennial Ceremony – Wednesday 9th January 2019 (Carnarvon)

Posted: December 20th, 2018

The Bernier and Dorre Island Lock Hospitals is a shocking part of WA’s history. Between 1908 and 1919, several hundred Aboriginal people from across WA were forcibly removed from their family and country to these lock hospitals via Carnarvon. Many of those family members who were separated during the lock hospital scheme never saw each other again. It’s conservatively estimated that more than 200 people died on the islands.

On Wednesday, 9 January 2019, a Centennial Ceremony will be held at Carnarvon’s One Mile Jetty Café at 3pm. The ceremony will remember and recognise the story, and history of the Bernier and Dorre Island Lock Hospital tragedy.

The State Government and the Shire of Carnarvon have provided funding for a bronze sculpture to acknowledge the centennial anniversary of the last person to be repatriated from the Lock Hospitals, off the coast of Carnarvon. The sculpture will be unveiled at a separate event in 2019.

For more information about the Lock Hospital tragedy click here or to download a PDF about the Lock Hospital tragedy click here.

Nanda native title determination photo gallery live!

Posted: December 18th, 2018

At an on-Country Federal Court hearing on 28 November 2018 at Kalbarri Foreshore in WA – the Nanda people were formally recognised by the Federal Court as native title holders, after a 24-year long legal process. About 300 people attended the hearing.

To view the photo gallery click here.

State government announces EOI for Aboriginal Ranger Program

Posted: December 17th, 2018

The State Government is calling for Expressions of Interest for funding under the second round of the $20 million Aboriginal Ranger Program.

The first round of the program provided $8.45 million to 13 groups across the State, creating 85 new jobs and 80 training opportunities for Aboriginal people, including 47 female Aboriginal ranger positions. YMAC was successful in securing funding in the first round on behalf of Malgana Shark Bay People’s Native Title Claim Group, as part of the proposed “Pathway to a Malgana Country Land and Sea Management Program”.

Round two will see rangers employed to undertake land and sea management including conservation, cultural, tourism and education activities across a range of tenures. A total of $9 million will be available in the second round, for single or multi-year projects up to three years.

For more information click here.

MEDIA RELEASE: Kariyarra people celebrate native title win

Posted: December 14th, 2018

The Kariyarra people yesterday celebrated the recognition of their determination of native title by the Federal Court. About 140 people attended the on-Country Court hearing at the Civic Gardens in Port Hedland. It has been a 20 year-long journey for the Kariyarra people to achieving native title recognition.

To view the media release click here.

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MEDIA RELEASE: Malgana people celebrate native title win

Posted: December 4th, 2018

In an on-Country Federal Court hearing at George Wear Park, Denham Foreshore, WA – the Malgana people have been formally recognised by the Federal Court as native title holders after a 20-year long legal process. Today’s hearing marks the beginning of a new phase for the Malgana people as native title holders.

The judgement made by Justice Murphy recognised the native title rights and interests held by the Malgana people in relation to the land and waters covered by the Determination Area.

Justice Murphy congratulated the Malgana Applicants on their native title determination.

“I congratulate the Malgana people for their dedication to achieving recognition of their native title. It took too long and too much work, and to get there is a great achievement.”

The Malgana People’s native title claim (WAD 6236 of 1998) was lodged in March 1998.

The Determination Area covers about 28,800 square kilometres of Malgana traditional country and encompasses: much of the UNESCO World Heritage Listed (1991) Area of Shark Bay and the Shark Bay Marine Park, Dirk Hartog Island National Park, Edel Land Peninsula and Steep Point – the most westerly point on Mainland Australia, the township of Denham and the whole of the Peron Peninsula and number of pastoral leases.

All Malgana Country and waters are important to the Malgana people. Some areas of particular cultural, historical and environmental significance within the Determination Area include Dirk Hartog Island, Carrarang, Hamelin homestead, Carrarang station, Denham townsite (previously called Freshwater Camp), Faure Island, Peron and Magpie.

The Determination Area is home to places of special spiritual significance to the Malgana people, in particular the burial places of the old people, whose spirits still inhabit Malgana country today.

The Malgana people have maintained a traditional connection to this area since time immemorial, with a vibrant living culture maintained through stories, spiritual connections to the ancestors and country, caring for and managing country and waters, and by passing on traditional knowledge through each generation. Malgana people have a strong connection to their land and waters through their intrinsic local knowledge of its natural resources and the land and seascape.

Fishing is one of the main customary activities of many Malgana people, which allows people to spend time on their waters teaching younger relatives about the sea’s resources and the ecological knowledge to look after the country. Malgana people also have extensive knowledge of the land’s resources learned from their old people, from the collection of bird and turtle eggs, the hunting of animals to the gathering of native plant foods and medicines depending on the seasons.

This same law and culture is still very alive today and is passed on through the generations in the same way as it has been for thousands of years.

Traditional Owner Marika Oakley, who is also Chairperson of the Malgana Aboriginal Corporation said, “Country doesn’t just belong to us. We belong to Country and we need Country as much as Country needs us.”

The celebration was facilitated by Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC), the Native Title Representative Body for the Yamatji region.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation Chief Executive Officer Simon Hawkins said, “Congratulations to the Malgana People on their success in what has been a long and hard fight.  Success has come from the persistence and determination of Malgana Elders – sadly, some of whom are no longer with us to witness the outcome of their efforts.

“Today is a day of celebration and we look forward to the future. Moving forward, YMAC is excited about the prospect of working collectively with the Malgana People on a range of initiatives and programs that they want to develop, for the benefit of their community,” Mr Hawkins said.

To download the media release click here.

Country is our mother, the provider and keeper of cultural belongings. Country and Culture go together. You can’t have one without the other.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians throughout Western Australia, and on whose Country we work. We acknowledge and respect their deep connection to their lands and waterways.

We honour and pay respect to Elders, and to their ancestors who survived and cared for Country.

Our offices are located on Whadjuk Country, Southern Yamatji Country, Yinggarda Country, Kariyarra Country, and Yawuru Country. We recognise the continuing culture, traditions, stories and living cultures on these lands and commit to building a brighter future together.

Disclaimer: Caution: Please be advised that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased people.

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