New group to protect Aboriginal heritage

GEOFF VIVIAN

Now that the WA Government has passed new laws to better protect Aboriginal cultural heritage, it has sought advice to make those new laws work.

As part of the process the Government has appointed an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Reference Group.

The new group has one member from industry, one from Government and two from the Aboriginal community.

Miriuwong Gajerrong and Bunuba woman Merle Carter; and Noongar, Karijarri, Bard and Nimanboor man Lindsay Dean are the Aboriginal members.

Ms Carter has been on the boards of the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre, Binarri-binyja yarrawoo (BBY) and Kimberley Land Council.

She is also a current member of the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee, Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee and Aboriginal Advisory Council of WA.

Mr Dean is a traditional owner of the Wagyl Kaip and Southern Noongar region in southern WA and Karijarri, Bard and Nimanboor in the West Kimberley.

He is chairman of the Karajarri Traditional Lands Association.

He said he had also served for six years on the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee, where he reviewed many cases from the Goldfields and Pilbara.

"There's a few contentious issues around veto, and we need to come to some middle ground," he said.

Mr Dean said he was honoured to be part of the new committee and was looking forward to starting work.

"I'm there to represent the people and the places. You know there's a lot of factors that go into making decisions. Hopefully we've gone about it the right way."