Aboriginal organisations in Western Australia's Mid-West and Gascoyne regions have received more than $107,000 to protect cultural heritage sites and strengthen connections to Country.
Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation and Yugunga-Nya Aboriginal Corporation will share $107,485.95 through the WA government's Preserve, Promote and Protect our Aboriginal Sites program.
The funding will support three Aboriginal-led projects involving site inspections, maintenance, fencing and the installation of interpretive signs.
Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation received funding for two projects.
The corporation was awarded $49,273.75 for work at Bilung Pool, where site inspections will be completed and new signage installed to improve the protection and interpretation of the area.
A further $46,869.75 will be used for maintenance and site evaluations at Boom Boom Spring and Middle Spring.
The project will include assessments of both locations and the installation of signage to support their long-term management.
Yugunga-Nya Aboriginal Corporation received $11,342.45 for the Dairy Pool Site Protection project.
The funding will be used to install fencing and interpretive signage, helping protect the site and preserve its cultural significance for future generations.
The three projects form part of a broader $1.25 million funding round supporting Aboriginal corporations and not-for-profit organisations across Western Australia.
WA Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch said the projects showed the work being led by Aboriginal communities to look after culturally important places.
"These projects reflect the commitment of Aboriginal communities across the Mid-West and Gascoyne regions to caring for Country and protecting places of deep cultural significance," he said.
"By supporting this work, we are helping ensure Aboriginal heritage is preserved and celebrated for future generations.
"I congratulate the successful organisations and look forward to seeing the positive outcomes these projects deliver."
WA Acting Mid-West Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the projects placed local Aboriginal knowledge and leadership at the centre of heritage protection.
"I'm pleased to see local Aboriginal leaders and organisations driving projects that care for Country, protect important heritage sites, and strengthen cultural connections across the Mid-West," she said.
"Supporting Aboriginal-led projects means supporting local leadership, local knowledge, and local solutions that will help preserve cultural heritage for future generations."
Minister for the Gascoyne region, Hannah Beazley, said the funding would also help ensure cultural knowledge continued to be passed on.
"These projects will help protect places of deep cultural significance across the Gascoyne while ensuring important cultural knowledge is preserved and shared for future generations," she said.
