YINDJIBARNDI ELDERS TO TESTIFY IN FMG LEGAL BATTLE
TOP LEFT: Yindjibarndi Elder Margaret Read. TOP RIGHT: Yindjibarndi Elder Tootsie Daniel. BOTTOM: The Ganalili Centre in Roebourne, where Federal Court hearings will be held today. (Credit: Ngaarda Media.)
Court hearings will begin in Roebourne today in the final stage of the legal battle between Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation and Fortescue Metals Group.
The court hearings will determine how much compensation FMG owes the Yindjibarndi people for mining the Solomon Hub on their country.
Yindjibarndi Elders Tootsie Daniel and Margaret Read will give their testimony this week.
Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation CEO Michael Woodley said it is important court hearings occur in the Pilbara.
“it gives, first and foremost, the opportunity for the courts to see where these operations are,” he said.
“In our commmunities, with industry and mining activities associated to our country but not bringing benefits and improvements of our lives, I think the on-country court sessions are important to [bringing attention] to that.”