Pilbara region news

Walkabout Hotel - 944 Great Northern Hwy, Port Hedland Lunch included. Look out for notices which will be sent to Members.

In our last edition of YMAC news, we reported on resolutions made at the 2020 Annual Regional Meeting (ARM) for the Pilbara Region. Attending Members resolved to form a collective to identify ways in which Pilbara Aboriginal people can work together to advocate for stronger protections and rights in the draft Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill.

Attendees at ACHB meeting on 11 June in Hedland

In June and July YMAC facilitated three meetings involving the collective. In Karratha (10 June) and Port Hedland (11 June and 14 July), Prescribed Bodies Corporate, Members and the broader community were invited to learn more about the Bill and discuss the concerns and ideas for collective-action in relation. YMAC’s Projects Director Kirsty Anderson and Legal Counsel Carolyn Tan led discussions on the amendments to the draft Bill since it was released for consultation in 2020. At each meeting attendees shared strong concerns about making sure their irreplaceable cultural heritage remains protected, and that Aboriginal people are at the forefront of decisions about what happens on Country. They also discussed ways to keep their community informed and raise awareness of concerns with decision-makers and government. The June and July meetings provided great feedback to YMAC on how to present the Yule River meeting in August, and it was valuable to see everyone there so actively involved in this year’s discussions.

Learn more about YMAC’s advocacy work on the campaign on page 10