The third meeting of the Paterson Regional Forum was held on Thursday 4 April 2024 at the Rio Tinto Central Park Conference Centre.
This twice-yearly meeting brings mining and exploration companies working in the north-west of the Martu Determinations together with JYAC to talk about working with Martu in the region that the mining companies call the ‘Paterson Province’.
This regional forum is an opportunity to discusses heritage protection, community and economic development, and to refine processes that will maximise protection of ngurra (country) in the most efficient and effective ways.
The role of co-convening these meetings with the Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation (JYAC) revolves amongst the participating companies. Greatland volunteered to co-convene on this occasion.
The Martu people are the owners and custodians of their lands in the western desert region of Western Australia.
Martu ngurra includes the exclusive possession native title lands recognised in 2002 and 2013, as well as Karlamilyi National Park, a total of more than 152,000 square kilometres of traditional country.
Previous meetings of the regional forum have discussed these key areas:
• Common user infrastructure development and use;
• Martu community development;
• Cultural landscape mapping; and
• Economic development opportunities.
The main focus for this third meeting was on improving heritage surveys. All participants were given an opportunity to speak about their experiences and to identify solutions and improvements to the existing processes.
There can be no mining sector on Martu ngurra without Martu.
Through the transformative power of native title, Martu are working to build capacity and improve employment and economic opportunities.
JYAC has a strong record of negotiating commercial agreements that protect ngurra, create job and business opportunities for Martu, and permit land use by government and industry.
Quotes from Tony McRae, Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation CEO
“Martu are dealing with more than 80 companies and approximately 500 mining and exploration tenements across ngurra.
“We tell everyone who comes here – governments, companies and visitors – about our 3 priorities:
1. Protect ngurra
2. Advance Martu
… and when 1 and 2 are in hand,
3. Generate wealth and opportunity.
“We work hard to negotiate agreements that facilitate mining and exploration, based on Martu land-use priorities.
“These discussions are an important way to improve cooperation and protecting this unique and beautiful ngurra (country).”
Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation (Grandfathers country-Grandmothers country) is the trustee for Martu lands, covering more than 150,000 square kilometres of the Western Desert in Western Australia (an area 2/3 of the size of Victoria)