The Yinhawangka People have launched a new community-led organisation to strengthen self-determination, elevate cultural authority and open pathways for long-term community-driven outcomes.
The Yinhawangka Foundation aims to provide a dedicated pathway for Yinhawangka People to design and deliver programs that strengthen social outcomes and drive health, wellbeing and economic prosperity across the Pilbara.
The Foundation's goal is to "empower the community to lead decisions that shape its future, ensuring generations to come thrive on Country and in culture".
"Our young people carry the future of Yinhawangka. This Foundation gives them the tools, knowledge and experience to lead with strength and respect for each other and our Elders past and present," said Yinhawangka Foundation chair Karis Drummond said.
"To have a youth board is something that we all hope for, where they can design and implement programs that best suit them. I also want to see empowerment in other ways, like building our youth confidence and giving them employment and training opportunities."My dream is to build and empower our youth so that one day in the near future our Yinhawangka People are managing and running the entire Foundation.
"Our Yinhawangka membership lead us.... These are programs that they want. Our job is not to lead but to build... Listening and learning from our members. Everything that we plan to do with the Foundation is driven by the ideas of our people."
The Foundation's structure enables partnerships across philanthropy, government and industry.
Yinhawangka Foundation said it "places cultural integrity and community priorities at the heart of every initiative", with programs to focus on supporting connection to Country; improving access to health, education and housing; creating pathways into employment, training and Yinhawangka-led enterprises; and providing "culturally-informed support that strengthens healing, unity and social resilience".
Marlon Cooke (YAC Director), Maria Osman (YF Independent Director), Justin Goodwin (YF Independent Director), Roy Tommy (YF Director), Karen Boyce (YAC Independent Director), Karis Drummond (YF Director and Chair), Gail Cox (YAC Director), Joanne Headlam (YF CEO), and Liam Flanagan (YAC CEO). Image: supplied.
At the recent launch event, Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation Director and proud Yinhawangka man from the Minatangunha Clan, Marlon Cooke, said the Foundation is "mainly for the future generation; employment, education and comfortable living".
"It all makes a big difference in how our people live now and for the future. It will make a big difference in our day to day lives," he said.
"The Yinhawangka Foundation is run by Yinhawangka leadership. We do have non Yinhawangka People helping us and advocating for us, but it is led by Yinhawangka People."
Yinhawangka Foundation CEO Joanne Headlam said Yinhawangka leadership is "embedded throughout the Foundation, including our Board, representing three of our apical groups and our program design team".
"As we recruit Yinhawangka youth, we will continue to strengthen Yinhawangka leadership across the organisation," she said.
"Next for the Foundation is building. We have exciting programs that are coming next year; supporting local artists, looking into social housing for Yinhawangka people and getting our youth council and youth positions up for running so our youth have a voice."
The establishment of the Foundation was made possible through seed funding provided by Rio Tinto.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore Health, Safety, Environment and Communities Vice President Caitlin Westgarth said supporting the Foundation is "about partnering with the Yinhawangka People and advancing their priorities and aspirations".
"We'll keep listening, learning and working together in ways that respect what matters most to them. We're committed to this partnership for the long term."
In a statement, Rio Tinto said it will support the Foundation's programs and initiatives identified by the Yinhawangka People, "advancing aspirations for self-determination, cultural connection and community wellbeing", through an Yinhawangka Social Outcomes Partnering Agreement.
