Our History
Pre 1863
1863
1863 – 1910
1900 – 1970
1946 – 1949
1935 – 1954
1954
1956 – 1965
1965 – 1974
1964
1967
1967 – 1974
1969
1974
1975-1976
1977-1978
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1988 – 1993
1993
1996
2005
2007
2009
2010
1863 – 1910
1866 – establishment of Cossack and Roebourne as colonists quickly take up land for pastoral stations across the West Pilbara, Within a short time, most Ngaardangarli land & water resources were taken up by pastoralists. The loss of traditional hunting and gathering grounds, access to water, and liberty to move freely across ancestral lands caused great stress upon all Ngaarda. This led to the killing of sheep and skirmishes between…
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1900 – 1970
Most Yindjibarndi families continued to work as stockmen and house servants in order to stay on their traditional lands. This enabled Yindjibarndi to sustain their language, families, and their cultural and spiritual obligations to care for their country, and maintain their ceremonial Law practices. Their stock working skills were highly prized by pastoralists.
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1946 – 1949
Supported by Don McLeod, 800 Pilbara Aboriginal Stockmen Strike for wage parity and conditions. “ (Under Section 26 of the Native Administration Act, a native could not quit his employment without committing a criminal offence: the native was bound by a contract even though he did not sign it.”
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1935 – 1954
In the 1930s, and increasingly after the Second World War, old people and those unable to work were forced to moveto government ration stations and then to the old Roebourne Reserve. After the 1950s fall in wool prices, many had no work and were put off the stations. Because few of those living on the Reserve were able to find work, Reserve life was marked by desperate poverty, illness, and…
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1954
The Roebourne Reserve begins to be home to Ngaardas from across the Western Pilbara. By the late 1950s, Roebourne Aboriginal Reserve is the largest in Western Australia. Most families, without work or possibilities of work, were forced to live in humpies on meager rations in extreme destitution. Seeking to make a difference for Ngaarda children, Ngaarda Elder, Old Tumbler insisted education be made available for Aboriginal children living on the…
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1956 – 1965
Many Ngaardas worked in the asbestos industry – as truck drivers, wharf laborers, and mine workers. Many later died of asbestos related diseases. When the Wittenoom mine closed, many Ngaardas remained unemployed, there being no other work available in the region.
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1965 – 1974
By 1965, some 300 Ngaardas from different language groups and traditional countries across the PIlbara were living on the old Roebourne Reserve, many in extreme poverty, yet Elders and Custodians maintained Ngaarda Laws, memories, culture, languages and ceremonies.
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1964
Beginning of the first Pilbara Mining Boom. Government, mining & resource companies began extensive infrastructure development and construction across the west Pilbara, investing some $2,200 million in iron ore production facilities, roads, railways, ports and new towns. Many thousands of hard living construction workers arrived to live in camps in Dampier and Roebourne, yet very few Ngaardas got any kind of employment.
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1967
Australia granted Aboriginal people citizenship. Local Ngaarda recall that citizenship did not improve their employment opportunities and that the introduction of equal pay for Aboriginal stockmen resulted in those still working in the pastoral industry losing their jobs. With no employment elsewhere, and no way of staying on their traditional lands, more were forced to live on welfare rations on the Roebourne Reserve.
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1967 – 1974
Without work, no longer able to access their country, and forced to live in continuing poverty in the midst of the riches of first mining boom, many adults took up alcohol. This had a terrible effect on families and culture, until the emergence of the Pilbara Aboriginal Church, with its focus on two way culture and giving up alcohol, helped Elders to restore people’s confidence in Cultural Law. Three new…
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1974
Assimilation – After many years of reports decrying the terrible living conditions on the Old Reserve, the state government removed most residents from the Old Reserve to the newly built Roebourne Aboriginal Village. No consultation was undertaken about placement of families or the positioning of the Village around the cemetery. A Shortfall in the provision of accommodation meant some 40 families could not be placed in housing. Shire of Roebourne…
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1977-1978
Several other Dam sites are proposed. A three month-long survey of other options preferred by PWSS is carried out by Aboriginal Cultural Heritage consultants. Their recommendations are rejected by Government. Yindjibarndi Elders are unable to rally other Pilbara Bush Meeting delegates to support their need to reject PWSS proposal to Dam the Harding River at Cooya Pooya / Lockyer’s Gorge.
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1981
The Registrar of Aboriginal Sites undertakes investigation and assessment of cultural sites in the proposed Dam and catchment area, and clears the way for the Dam to proceed. This was done after a brief two day visit to Roebourne and without consultation with senior Yindjibarndi knowledge holders. May – Harding River announced as PWSS preferred Dam site. June – Initial design & construction investigations undertaken. July – First public reports…
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1982
February – Harding Dam construction contract signed. March – Construction begins on Harding Dam. April/May – Public comment period regarding the Harding Dam Environmental Impact Report. April – Petition tabled in Parliament requesting further investigation regarding proposed Dam. The Public Works Department claimed decision for Dam on Harding River was only taken after 8 years of consultation with Aboriginal people. July – Long Mack writes to the Minister for Water…
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1983
Yindjibarndi leader, Long Mack passes away February – WA State elections bring Labor Party to power, leading to hopes that plans to build Harding Dam will be set aside. Nothing changes. April – Ngaarda hold a meeting at the Dam site to survey and mourn for what will be lost. September – 18 year old, John Pat’s Death in Custody in Roebourne Gaol. His death, which led to the Commonwealth…
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1984
June – Western Australia’s Land Rights Inquiry Commissioner, Paul Seaman meets with Roebourne people July – Yindjibarndi Elders request Federal High Court to stop the construction of the Harding Dam August – Federal High Court rejects Ngaarda application to stop the building of Harding Dam
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1988 – 1993
Frank Rejavic & Noelene Harrison film Exile & the Kingdom documenting Ngaarda cultural heritage & history
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2005
First Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Native Title Decision (appealed) Intensive new developments in the mining & resource industries lead to the pegging of mining leases over most of the Pilbara. Pressure on Native Title holders to provide Heritage Clearances in return for limited royalties grows.
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2010
Pressure on Ngaardangali to provide Heritage Clearances and allow mining on their land continues. Karratha plans population expansion from 20,000 to 50,000 people between 2010-2020. New ports, rail and mining Infrastructure planned – yet most Ngaarda live in very impoverished conditions, with few opportunities for improving their economic or social well-being.
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