Yawuru+Traditional+Owners

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Yawuru Group/Native title agreements


 * Indigenous perspectives**

http://members.westnet.com.au/anugraha/yawuru/ This website was setup by the Yawuru people to help improve their lives and keep alive the wonderful passion they have for the land, people and culture.

[] Senior Yawuru traditional owner Pat Dodson speaks about Marregeku, a project that helps portray Aboriginal culture through dance and play.

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/local/kimberley/201002/r520771_2884617.mp3 Senior Yawuru traditional owner Pat Dodson in an interview with the ABC after the landmark native title land use agreement in 2010.

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 * Non Indigenous perspective**

[] The National Native Title Tribunal newsletter release on the native title process.

[] abc Kimberley news article on the Native Title agreement.

[] abc kimberley news article on the Native Title agreement.

The Yawuru People of Broome are the tradional owners of the land in Western Australia's North West. Over the years they have continued the battle with the government for native tiltle agreements. The six resources above are drawn together by the native title topic that has been at the forefront for the Yawuru People for so many years. The Yawuru People of the Broome region, in Western Australia, have experienced a long and eventful journey on their road to resolving their native title claims. The people's work began in 1994 when they submitted their first claim, the Rubibi 1 application(NNTT, 2010).

The Yawuru people were recognised as the rightful owners of their traditional lands in Broome and surrounding areas on April 28, 2006 (KLC, 2010). The landmark native title agreement came in 2010 when the Yawuru traditional owners negotiated a land use agreement with the government. It's interesting to compare different stories relating to the issue. ABC Kimberley's Lana Reed, Erin Parke, Vanessa Mills and Ben Collins wrote an article on the agreement with the opening paragraph highlighting that it was a "200 million dollar deal" that the traditional owners had negotiated. They then go on to describe the details of the deal to a small degree. This in stark contrast to an interview with Yawuru traditional owner Pat Dodson, who was involved in the deal. Mr Dodson goes into great detail as to the benefits of the deal and advantages it will bring to Broome and its people. He speaks glowingly of the benefits it will provide and seems to focus more on the outcomes rather than monetary settlements. While he does mention there is a financial side to the deal a complete figure isn't mentioned. What is the real issue here, money or better life outcomes?

The Rarrdjali Yawuru website and the visual inerview with Pat Dodson are terrific examples of the passion that the Yawuru people have for their land, family and culture, which in turn is a direct result of the importance they place in the native title agreement. The Yawuru people want to cooperate with their indigenous neighbours in the present renaissance of Australian Indigenous culture, and hope this web-site will be a step in that direction (Rarrdjali Yawuru Corporation, 2010)

The Kimberley Land Council (KLC) website and the news and communications newsletter from the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) also provide informative accounts of the native title process. The NNTT goes into great detail on the process from the initial 1994 claim to the 2010 agreement. The final resolution for matters following these determinations was achieved on 25 February 2010 when the Yawuru People and the State Government signed two indigenous land use agreements (NNTT, 2010). The Kimberley Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (KLC) is an association of Aboriginal people in the Kimberley region. It is a peak regional community organisation (KLC, 2010). Their website also provides a detailed account of the process with KLC director Wayne Bergmann stating “The Rubibi claimants have proven their connection to country, and their on-going cultural and spiritual beliefs. Today they are recognised as the original habitants and owners for this area’’. This website is a voice for not only the Yawuru people but the many other tribes in the Kimberley.

References

Mills, V. (2010). //Native Title Celebrations for Broome.// Retrieved from []

Mills, V. (2010). //ABC podcast.// Retrieved from []

Reed, L. et al (2010). //Broome Native Title Land Use Agreement.// Retrieved from []

Spittle, D. (2010). //The Yawuru People's Native Title Journey.// Retrieved from []

http://members.westnet.com.au/anugraha/yawuru/

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