The Western Australia Government is announcing an annual ‘Preserve, Promote and Protect Our Aboriginal Siters’ grants program with an improved grant pool of $1 million.
The program aims to empower Aboriginal organisations to manage and protect sites of cultural and historical significance across the state.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Tony Buti said the new grant would support local and cultural communities and recognise the land’s history.
“This year’s grant pool of one million dollars and adjustments to the eligibility criteria will further enhance the cultural development of local communities and foster a deeper understanding of one of the world’s oldest living cultures across the State,” he said.
“Our government remains committed to assisting Aboriginal organisations in their mission to protect heritage sites of immense social and cultural importance, and that commitment includes increased grant funding each year,” he said.
As of June 2023, 16.2 percent of Australia’s land area was owned or controlled by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people nationally, according to the Australia Government Productivity Commission.
Dr Buti urges Aboriginal groups to apply for grand funding as he believes that the program will allow more people to engage with indignous culture.
“This program provides a valuable opportunity to not only preserve important cultural sites but also enhance community engagement and promote cultural understanding across Western Australia.”
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Tony Buti
According to the Aboriginal Land Strategic Framework Report, there are approximately 15,000 registered Aboriginal heritage sites and records of a further 15,000 places across Western Australia.
With the destruction of the historic Aboriginal heritage site Juukan Gorge in 2020 by mining company Rio Tinto, Aboriginal communities still hold concern that more heritage sites might face the same fate.
Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation director Robert Eggington said that the destruction of Juukan Gorge by Rio Tinto was a colossal blow for Aboriginal and Indigenous communities and that they shouldn’t have got away with it.
“They (Rio Tinto) broke every law conceivable by what they did but it doesn’t t shock or surprise Aboriginal people or Indigenous people globally, because that’ s what these mining companies got away with.”
Director of the Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation Robert Eggington
Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm said he aims to work with Indigenous people to rebuild trust and cooperation in the aftermath of the destruction of the Juukan Gorge.
“While we have made progress, we know it will take time to transform our culture and regain trust. But, together with the Indigenous peoples of the lands on which we operate, we are committed to ensuring cultural heritage is respected, valued and conserved for future generations.”
Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm
The Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 was introduced to protect and manage Aboriginal heritage by requiring approvals for activities that may cause harm to the area.
In June 2023 the Act was superceded when the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 came into effect, but it prompted a wave of confusion and complaints and so on November 15, 2023, the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 was restored with some additions and amendements. It is now commenly referred to as the new 1972 Act. But Eggington said the Act needs more changes for the future protection of Aboriginal heritage sites.
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