Loading

MURUJUGA MEMBER NEWSLETTER Scroll down for December 2021

"NGAYINTHARRI GUMAWARNI NGURRANGGA"

WE ALL COME TOGETHER FOR COUNTRY

Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) brings together and represents our lands five custodial Ngarda Ngarli; Ngarluma, Yindjibarndi, Yaburara, Mardudhunera, and Wong-Goo-Tt-Oo. Our strategy is to work closely as the traditional Ngarda Ngarli to maintain cohesion and to ensure our programs and outcomes reflect the needs of our community. MAC's mission is to preserve and protect our land, heritage and culture while transforming the lives of our community.

Dear MAC Members,

As another year comes to an end, I want to take the time to reflect on the last 12 months and what we have achieved together as a united organisation with your continued support.

Despite the ongoing challenges that COVID-19 continues to impose on the global community, 2021 was certainly a busy year for MAC and its members.

Together we’ve continued our mission to preserve and protect our land and culture while transforming the lives of our community. We have done so through our commitment to achieving our strategic objectives that include managing our land and sea and keeping our culture strong, delivering value to our members, strengthening our foundations, and building upon our commercial footprint.

One of the biggest achievements this year was the completion of the final draft for the World Heritage Listing Nomination. This project will recognise Murujuga National Park and our ancient rock art on an international level when it achieves official World Heritage List status. Thank you to all involved and those who continue to work on this project, your efforts are greatly appreciated.

In addition, we have continued our ongoing programs that monitor, analyse and manage our sacred rock art in partnership with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

To cap off the year, we have recently released our Annual Report which includes a detailed overview of MAC's achievements over the 2020-2021 financial year. You can also read over MAC's annual reporting on the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) website.

Together we are achieving more than anticipated, and with the guidance of our Circle of Elders and the Board, the transformation of MAC is taking shape as planned into a stable and strategic corporation that will speak clearly for our land and members – and for this I am proud to lead this organisation into another year of achievements.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the MAC staff and members for their contributions and trust in this wonderful organisation.

We have some exciting projects in store for next year, so remember to keep up to date via our Facebook page for more information. With the AGM closing early this year we have set a new date for the General Meeting to be held early in the new year - formal notices will be posted out to members soon. The General Meeting will include board re-elections and additional business items.

Wishing you all a safe and healthy holiday season. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2022.

Ngayintharri gumawarni ngurrangga.

Regards,

Peter Jeffries

Quarterly Update

We have a lot to be proud of here at MAC, having taken some progressive steps forward within Q4 of 2021. See below for recent updates!

Murujuga Ranger Program

Changes in Ranger Management

In December we said goodbye to MAC Manager of Ranger Services, Brian Wall. Thank you for your efforts to date and we wish you the best of luck in your new role.

With Brian's departure, Mike Fountain will be stepping up into the role of Manager of Ranger Services for the next six months, and Peter Cooper will step up into the Ranger Coordinator role, previously held by Mike, for an initial six months.

Ranger Recruitment

Looking for a new career? We're looking for passionate individuals to join the Murujuga Rangers team. Find out the full details here.

Rock Art Tours

The MAC Rangers have continued to deliver a steady stream of Rock Art Tours at Murujuga National Park to visitors and key stakeholders from all across the state and a few further afield. In this quarter alone, 99 guests attended the corporate rock art tours.

MAC also recently welcomed the Postie Bike Tour group on its annual 2021 Red Dog Postie Bike Adventure, which provides people with adventure trips of a lifetime through some of the best places Australia has to showcase - all whilst raising funds for the Cancer Council.

The group parked up their postie bikes to take a foot tour with MAC Rangers and learn more about Murujuga and our ancient rock art.

So far the group has raised just over $9,000, just short of its $10,000 goal - well done to all involved!

Postie Bike Tour group at Murujuga National Park as part of its 2021 Red Dog Postie Bike Adventure.

Cultural Awareness Training

MAC Rangers continue to deliver cultural awareness training to a number of local groups and businesses.

Over the course of the last quarter (October – December), 44 guests attended the corporate inhouse Cultural Awareness Training hosted by MAC representatives. In addition, Rangers Richard Variakojis and Sarah Hicks attended a two-week Museum Curators course in Perth learning how to preserve, store and care for artefacts.

Collaboration the Key for Cultural Land Management

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Stephen Dawson recently announced a Lotterywest grant of $1,445,750 for Pilbara traditional owners to build capacity and capability of cultural land management programs.

The grant will be used by Pilbara Cultural Land Management Project partner organisations to collaborate and care for both cultural and natural heritage. MAC is proud to be the auspicing body for this project.

The aim is to enhance the resources and skills of partner groups to assist in the collection and sharing of data along with fostering sustainable environmental and cultural land monitoring.

The project is made up of 10 traditional owner groups, covering 48 per cent of the Pilbara land area.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Stephen Dawson with PCLMP Traditional Owner Groups including MAC representatives.

On Country Update

Better protection needed for submerged Indigenous heritage

New archaeological research has highlighted major blind spots in Australia’s environmental management policies, placing submerged Indigenous heritage at risk.

The Deep History of Sea Country (DHSC) project team has uncovered a new intertidal stone quarry and stone tool manufacturing site, as well as coastal rock art and engravings, during a land-and-sea archaeological survey on Murujuga sea country, off the Pilbara coastline.

An international team of archaeologists from Flinders University, The University of Western Australia, James Cook University, ARA – Airborne Research Australia and the University of York (United Kingdom) collaborated in partnership with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation to produce novel aerial and intertidal surveys of the cultural landscape in WA.

The findings outline the need for a national policy which ensures resource companies operate with care for Aboriginal heritage and develop protections against climate change, dredging, windfarms, interconnectors, and seabed mining while ensuring industry collaborates with Indigenous stakeholders and archaeologists.

Read more about the underwater archaeological research here.

Murujuga sea country.

Desert to the sea

An Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant has been awarded a five year project called “From the Desert to the Sea: Managing Rock Art, Country and Culture”, which explores the historical and cultural links between desert and coastal Aboriginal people in northern WA, from the Western Desert to the coastal Pilbara.

MAC CEO Peter Jeffries, was featured on the ABC Radio alongside Director of the Centre for Rock Art Research + Management at UWA, Jo McDonald speaking about the project.

Hear more about the project here.

MAC CEO Peter Jeffries at ABC Radio. Credit: Centre for Rock Art Facebook.

Ethnobotanical book launch

MAC’s new ethnobotanical reference book shares our history and traditional knowledge about plant species located on Murujuga (Burrup Peninsula and Dampier Archipelago), and shines a light on the unique Murujuga environment and living knowledge gathered by our elders and passed down over thousands of years.

The book Living Knowledge: The Plants of Murujuga celebrates and shares the traditional uses of a vast collection of plants which, as part of this project, have also been lodged with the West Australian Herbarium for future use and reference.

Capturing living knowledge from our elders was a humbling experience and will help ensure this information is not lost in time. It is hoped that future editions can contain further updates and reference even more elders in our community.

The project commenced in 2008 during heritage surveys conducted for Woodside’s Pluto LNG facilities after Traditional Custodians requested support from the company to conduct studies into traditional uses of plants in the area. An additional two surveys were conducted in 2009 and 2011 with the support of Woodside.

You can secure your copy for $45 at the Karratha Visitor Centre and Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation headquarters, or by calling 08 9144 4112.

(L-R) Peter Cooper (MAC Ranger), Vicki Long (Botanist, Vicki Long & Associates), Richard Variakojis (MAC Ranger), Sean-Paul Stephens (Lead, Indigenous Engagement, Woodside) on Murujuga country with the Ethnobotanical “Living Knowledge: The Plants of Murujuga.”

Turtle nesting season in Dampier Archipelago

The turtle nesting season in the Dampier Archipelago is well and truly underway. Between October and December turtle monitoring surveys have identified evidence of hawksbill, green and flatback turtle nesting attempts, although only hawksbill nesting has been visually confirmed to date.

To help protect nesting sea turtles this season:

  1. Avoid driving on turtle nesting beaches from October to April – we’ve noticed 4WD activity in the area.
  2. Refrain from lighting campfires on turtle nesting beaches.
  3. Keep dogs and other pets away from turtle nesting beaches
  4. Minimise artificial light on nesting beaches.

For more guidance on best practices head to the DBCA website for more information.

Turtles nesting on Murujuga Country.

Key stakeholders continue to visit Murujuga

MAC welcomed Josh Wilson MP for his first visit to Murujuga National Park, showcasing the rock art and cultural significance of the area.

Hear what Josh had to say: “A breathtaking experience to finally visit Murujuga. Some of the petroglyphs I was privileged to see are over 50,000 years old, and it’s estimated there are over a million of them in the National Park. This incredible rock art library is of immeasurable cultural significance to our First Nations people, and to the whole of humanity - which is why Murujuga is being rightly proposed for World Heritage listing. Thank you to the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation Rangers for taking us on Country and for sharing your history, and stories with us”.

Patrick Churnside (MAC Cultural Advisor) and Josh Wilson MP viewing the Murujuga Rock Art.

Polly Farmer Foundation

In addition to visits from MP’s, MAC welcomed Karratha Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Centre students to Murujuga National Park. Working alongside the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and MAC cultural leaders and rangers, students were presented with an opportunity to learn about the culture of rocks and the preservation of Petroglyphs on the Burrup Peninsula.

Karratha STEM coordinator Anna Ritzema said, "One of my biggest passions is developing a “classroom to workplace” pathway for students from the earliest age. Connecting with and creating partnerships with STEM professionals is imperative if we want our students to have that passion and drive to pursue those careers. One of the best ways to engage students is for them to understand the journeys of others and connect with the personal adventures they have been on. We were so lucky to host CSIRO geologists to support our studies of the Petroglyphs on the Burrup Peninsula. Dr Erick Rameidou, Dr Ian Lau and Dr Nieshka inspired a whole new generation of geologists!".

Thanks to all the Karratha STEM Centre students for coming, you made the day a lot of fun for the rangers and MAC team, it was our pleasure having you!

World Heritage Update

2021 has been a busy and productive year for the Murujuga World Heritage project team. Significant progress has been made toward the preparation of the nomination dossier, the formal application for World Heritage listing.

A key focus for 2021 has been preparing the five key sections of the nomination. Drafting is now well progressed in Q4, with ongoing cultural and technical input provided through the established advisory framework; the independent World Heritage Advisor, the Murujuga Heritage Committee, and Interagency Taskforce. Drafts of all five sections have now been workshopped and reviewed by the Heritage Committee, with the final section reviewed by the Interagency Taskforce this month.

These committees have continued to meet regularly throughout the year to oversee the development of the nomination, contribute to its content and facilitate community and stakeholder engagement opportunities.

Ongoing cultural advice and input remains central to the nomination process. Throughout 2021, MAC’s World Heritage Officer, Amy Stevens, has been busy recording cultural information and stories provided by Ngarda Ngarli through the Circle of Elders and community members. A World Heritage Community Day was held at Ieramugadu (Roebourne) in July 2021 and a yarning session with residents of the Yaandina Community Services was held in August.

Murujua Rock Art.

MAC wins State World Heritage Award

In November, MAC was awarded the Tourism Product award at the 2021 WA State Heritage Awards for the recently constructed Ngajarli Art Viewing Trail.

The Ngajarli Art Viewing Trail is the result of an ongoing partnership between MAC and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, to protect and preserve our ancient rock art, rich history and the profound connection between people and country at Ngajarli.

Opened officially on the 26 August 2020 by Circle of Elder Mr. Lawrence Kerr, the 700-metre trail allows people to visit Murujuga National Park and view the ancient rock art from a safe distance and divert foot traffic away from some of our extremely sacred rock art and culturally sensitive locations.

MAC CEO Peter Jeffries accepting the 2021 WA State Heritage Awards.
Award winning Ngajarli Art Viewing Trail at Murujuga National Park.

Our People

Murujuga Circle of Elder, Pansy Hicks has showcased the Pilbara region through her artistic talents at the 2021 Colours of our Country Art Exhibition.

The Colours of our Country Aboriginal Art Exhibition is hosted by Rio Tinto and is a pop-up exhibition held in Perth, to showcase the vibrant colours of the Pilbara.

Pansy had six pieces in this year’s exhibition, showcasing Munni Munni Hills and Stepping Stones – those used by the Ngarluma ancestors when they walked the lands and crossed the rivers to find food and to camp.

Click on the link to hear the story behind Pansy's in for painting.

MAC Circle of Elder, Pansy Hicks, alongside one of her paintings. Credit: Colours of our Country Facebook.

MAC New Starters

Joining the MAC team this month, we are pleased to welcome and introduce our newest addition, Talia Connors, as MAC’s receptionist and administration assistant. As a current member of MAC, we look forward to supporting Talia to obtain her Certificate 4 in Business, and assist her career aspirations through the exciting traineeship opportunity at MAC she's accepted.

New MAC team member Talia Connors.

What's On For 2022?

We have a lot to get excited about in 2022!

It’s also shaping up to be a big year for World Heritage Listing in 2022, with the World Heritage Listing nomination on schedule to be submitted to the MAC Board and State Government for approval. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more information.

As for the Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program, we are looking forward to continuing our partnership with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to monitor, analyse and manage the rock art. We are continuing to work with the very best industry experts and will provide rock art updates early in the New Year.

NOW HIRING

As we add to the MAC team in 2022, we are now looking for a Murujuga Commercial Ltd Executive Manager to join our team. This role is now being advertised and can be viewed here.

Important Dates

MURUJUGA GENERAL MEETING: Will be held on Friday 11 February 2022. View the full details here.

OFFICES CLOSED: Our offices will be closed from Saturday 25 December 2021 and will reopen on Tuesday 4 January 2022. If you have an urgent enquiry or emergency during the holiday break, please call our office on 08 9144 4112 and follow the answering message prompts.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and progressive passage into the New Year.

Ngayintharri Gumawarni Ngurrangga

We All Come Together For Country

MAC Member Reminders

ARE YOUR MEMBER DETAILS UP TO DATE? Click here to update them now so we can send you important news and opportunities.

KNOW SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE A MEMBER? Forward this application form on.

For all the latest MAC news and updates click here.

Stay safe and look after each other

Office Address: 313 King Bay Road, Dampier, WA 6713

Postal Address: PO Box 1544, Karratha, WA 6714

Email: admin@murujuga.org.au | Phone: +61 8 9144 4112