Heritage

During the reporting period, YMAC’s Heritage Unit’s activities remained steady throughout the Yamatji and Pilbara regions until COVID-19 made Aboriginal communities vulnerable. During high-risk times between March and June, Heritage staff ensured no field work occurred on-Country. The Heritage Team continues to work with Traditional Owners to ensure everyone is feeling safe, while protecting Country also remains a priority.

KEY OUTPUTS:

• Coordinated 35 survey and monitoring trips; • With Traditional Owners, YMAC staff conducted 14 of these surveys.

KEY INITIATIVES ON-COUNTRY:

Hutt River YMAC conducted a heritage survey at the Hutt River Lagoon Pink Lake area where tourism developments will take place as part of the Hutt River Native Title Claim Area. This work has ensured developments and ongoing tourist visitation will be sustainable, safe, and not negatively impact on heritage sites.

Women’s cultural trip on Ngarlawangga Country Nganhurra Thanardi Garrbu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC YMAC participated in consultations to ensure heritage values along the Ningaloo Coast are protected and managed collaboratively by the DBCA and NTGAC. This was achieved through the on-Country recording of site boundaries and values, as well as the collection of recommendations from Traditional Owners.

Ngarlawangga Country YMAC’s Heritage Unit collaborated with our Research Team on the ‘Women’s Knowledge Trip’, with the goal to record cultural knowledge about Ngarlawangga Country, families and language from key knowledge holders.

Working with the Procedural Fairness System YMAC was successful in overturning an initial decision by DPLH which ensured a very important waterway in the Pilbara became a ‘Registered Site’. When informed of the initial decision against the site, the Heritage team worked collaboratively with the relevant PBC to challenge this decision through discussions with DPLH.