PRE-MEETING WORKSHOP HELD FOR THIS YEAR’S YULE RIVER GATHERING

Nigel Scullion held discussions with Pilbara Aboriginal people at 2018’s Yule River Meeting.

Today, First Nations elders and leaders from across the Pilbara are gathering at a workshop in preparation for the annual Yule River On-Country Meeting.

The Yule River meeting gives Pilbara Aboriginal communities to hold discussions with each other and with government representatives.

The meeting did not take place in 2022 due to Covid.

This year, for the first time, the YMAC Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation Pilbara Regional Committee is hosting a pre-meeting workshop, where leaders will prepare proposals to present to the broader community at the meeting in July.

YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins said there were a range of issues to be considered at Yule River this year.

“The Voice to Parliament is going to be an issue that no doubt will be talked about,” he said.

“There’s ongoing heritage issues, ‘Closing the Gap’ type issues, and significant housing and social issues in some of the communities in the Pilbara.”