Heritage

During the reporting period, YMAC’s Heritage unit activities continued to rise as exploration companies, major mining companies and government infrastructure agencies worked to keep pace with the current mining boom. To accommodate the increase in project numbers, the Heritage unit welcomed two new archaeologists and an anthropologist.

COVID-19 continued to be a major consideration in the execution of field projects. The Heritage unit worked with Traditional Owners to develop COVID safety plans to ensure everyone felt safe while protecting Country.

Below: The Yinggarda survey for Main Roads Western Australia. Picture: Sally McGann

Key highlights:

Ngarlawangga Country During the reporting period, YMAC’s Heritage and Research units were engaged by Ngarlawangga Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC to undertake social surroundings fieldwork for Rio Tinto’s Environmental Protection Authority application. Staff continued to conduct field trips with Ngarlawangga community representatives to discuss the potential impact of mining on important cultural sites, as well as the aesthetic, economic and social aspects of the landscape.

Nganhurra Thanardi Garbu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC In 2022, YMAC facilitated an on-theground survey to record the cultural values of water at Cape Range National Park. Baiyungu and Yinnigurrura Heritage Custodians drove this project to record and protect local heritage values because increased development and intensified WA tourism may have an impact on the landscape in Exmouth and Cape Range. Further to this, in June 2022, a team from YMAC went to Qualing Pool in Exmouth with Baiyungu and Yinnigurrura Heritage Custodians to discuss cultural values and boundaries for a proposed conservation reserve with the DBCA. These consultations will allow Baiyungu and Yinnigurrura Heritage Custodians to celebrate the heritage of the area with visitors to Exmouth while protecting important cultural values. Yinggarda Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC During 2021 and 2022, YMAC facilitated discussions with Yinggarda Heritage Custodians regarding the Gascoyne River. Main Roads Western Australia plans to improve the safety of bridges in the region and were keen to protect the cultural values of the waterways during this process.

Key outputs:

• Coordinated 99 survey and monitoring trips; 62 were surveys or other investigations. • With Traditional Owners, YMAC staff conducted 16 of these surveys.

AIATSIS Summit 2022

In June, a member of the Heritage unit travelled with other YMAC staff and Directors to the Sunshine Coast to attend the National Native Title Conference. This year, the conference celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Mabo decision, with many excellent speakers from around Australia addressing a multitude of topics including cultural information and intellectual property protection, fire management and Indigenous-led research. On the final day, Federal MP Linda Burney gave her first address to First Nations people since her appointment as Minister for Indigenous Australians and popular singer Christine Anu delivered a spectacular concert at the Friday night gala dinner.