Country, Culture, People, Future

Aboriginal Rangers

State Government grants funding for Malgana Country Management Program

Posted: February 14th, 2018

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On 10 February 2018, the WA State Government announced the first round of funding of its Aboriginal Ranger Program, awarding $8.4 million to successful applicants. Over the next five-years this program will provide a total of $20 million to support Aboriginal people in the management and conservation of their traditional country.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) empowers all of our Traditional Owner communities in realising their conservation and land management objectives by supporting them to be the decision-makers on their Country.

As one of the successful applicants in the first round of funding, YMAC – on behalf of Malgana Shark Bay People’s Native Title Claim Group – will receive funding for the employment of one Malgana Ranger and one Land and Sea Management Coordinator for 18-months, as part of the proposed “Pathway to a Malgana Country Land and Sea Management Program”.

The first round of funding was very competitive with 58 applications requesting over $60 million in funding and only 13 programs awarded funding.

YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins said, “The State Government grant is a good first step in involving Malgana Traditional Owners in the management of their traditional land and sea country in the Shark Bay area.” Currently, the majority of the Shark Bay area is classified as either: ‘National Park’, ‘Nature Reserve’, ‘Conservation Park’, ‘Marine Park’ or ‘Marine Nature Reserve’, and managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).

“Shark Bay has been recognised for its unique and outstanding environmental values, evidenced by its inclusion on both the National and World Heritages Lists, and this initiative has the potential to become a comprehensive Malgana-led land and sea management program for the entire Shark Bay area,” Mr Hawkins said.

“For many years, Malgana Traditional Owners have indicated their strong desire to be directly involved in managing the vast conservation estate in the Shark Bay area. Whether it’s through direct employment with the State agency responsible for conservation and land management, or through formal and legally binding partnerships involving the Traditional Owners and the State of Western Australia, these aspirations are gradually taking shape,” he said.

“It’s a positive outcome for the Malgana community that will generate local economic, training and employment opportunities, as well as generating environmental and cultural outcomes,” Mr Hawkins said.

The recently produced ‘Gutharraguda Land and Sea Country Management Plan’, endorsed by the Malgana Shark Bay People’s native title working group (‘Malgana Working Group’), clearly articulates some of these aspirations, alongside a set of values and assets, both natural and cultural.

The current funding will assist Malgana People to deliver some of their objectives as described in the ‘Gutharraguda Land and Sea Country Management Plan’, including:

  • Set-up a Malgana reference group which will act as an interface between the wider Malgana community and all stakeholders with an interest in land and sea management in the Shark Bay area. This group will also form part of the negotiation team on behalf of Malgana People when Indigenous Land Use Agreement negotiations start in earnest with the State of Western Australia.
  • Employ a Malgana Ranger within DBCA’s Denham office.
  • Train six Malgana People (three females and three males) in accredited conservation and land management modules.
  • Employ a Malgana person in a coordinating position to facilitate support, and manage the program.

YMAC is in the process of signing the funding agreement with the State Government, on behalf of the Malgana Shark Bay People’s Native Title Claim Group.

YMAC will support the Malgana on its projects and ensure Malgana People are directly involved in the decision-making and practical management of the cultural heritage and environmental assets on their Country.

Expressions of Interest for Aboriginal Ranger Program

Posted: September 26th, 2017

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The State Government is developing an Aboriginal Ranger Program to create jobs and training and community development opportunities for Aboriginal people across a range of tenures in regional and remote communities across Western Australia. The Government has committed $20 million to the program over five years, which will see $4 million available each year to Aboriginal organisations, corporations and ranger groups.

The Government recognises the social, cultural and environmental benefits of Aboriginal ranger programs and is aware of the excellent work that has already been undertaken by established Aboriginal ranger groups throughout the State. Such programs have provided an integral step towards improved community wellbeing and reducing poverty through economic opportunities and building leadership in remote and regional communities.

Commencing in 2017-18, the program will train and employ Aboriginal people as rangers to undertake land and sea management activities including:

  • biodiversity monitoring and research
  • traditional knowledge transfer
  • fire management
  • cultural site management
  • feral animal and weed management
  • cultural awareness and immersion experiences
  • tourism management
  • education programs and mentoring.

The program will also assist Aboriginal communities to identify land management priorities and opportunities, build community and organisational capacity and invest in direct training opportunities.

 Expressions of Interest for the first round of funding is now open. Applications must be completed and submitted by 31 October 2017.

For more information, please visit the website: Aboriginal Ranger Program

Nyangumarta Rangers

Posted: August 25th, 2017

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Campaign for more Rangers launched

Posted: October 17th, 2016

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A campaign to hire Aboriginal Rangers for National Parks in Western Australia has launched a new website.

Create Ranger Parks is raising awareness about State-owned outback stations. The campaign aims to hire Aboriginal Rangers to manage the upkeep of the parks as a cost effective way to take care of the stations while providing the opportunity to practice their law and culture.

The website and Facebook page offer information about the campaign and how to get involved. You can learn more about Create Ranger Parks on their website here and their Facebook page here.

YMAC News issue 30

Posted: June 17th, 2016

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The latest issue of YMAC News is now available.

In this issue, we are excited to introduce a new project between the Nanda people, Knowledge Partnerships and the Department of Parks and Wildlife to install interpretive signage throughout Kalbarri National Park.

Also in this issue we remember the 1946 Pilbara Strike, the longest strike in Australian history. We’re also excited to share photographs and updates about the Nyangumarta Rangers and what they are doing for their Country, and we celebrate the training and development successes of young Aboriginal men at the Clontarf Academy in Carnarvon.

To request a hard copy or to give us any feedback, email editor@ymac.org.au.

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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