The Ngarluma people 

The Ngarluma people are the original inhabitants of the coastal and hinterland areas around Roebourne (West Pilbara, Western Australia).

Archaeological surveys have revealed continuous occupation and ancestry stretching back more than 30,000 years giving the Ngarluma people a deep historical and spiritual connection to the land, waterways, rivers and the sea.

Click here to download the full media backgrounder 

The joint venture is believed to be the first of its kind in the Pilbara where two Aboriginal groups have joined together to benefit their communities.

Click here to download the full media release 

This heritage survey forms a part of the outcome of several years of native title negotiations between the Department of State Development (DSD) representing the Government and the NAC, assisted by a team of negotiators including Nicholas Green who provided “best practice” heritage advice for the duration of the negotiations.

The negotiations concluded in late 2013 with the drafting of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA), which to be signed by the Premier of Western Australia and the Ngarluma native title holders. The ILUA allows for the provision of a heritage survey, funded by the Government, with Anthropos Australis (WA) Pty Ltd being agreed by all parties to be the heritage service provider.

The heritage survey of the future port, access corridor and industrial areas, is being undertaken by our professional staff with the NACâ€s heritage staff, and is expected to continue until June 2014. The Survey Team, co-managed by Ian Scott (Manager-Heritage Services) and Richard Walker (Heritage Manager-NAC) includes Camille Tanner (Project Leader) Tiwa Olowoyo, Kirsty Potts and Shannon Smith working with four Ngarluma Elders, four Ngarluma walkers (working with the archaeologists) plus Adeline Simmonds (Heritage Liaison Officer-NAC).

The Survey Team has a physically challenging but significant task ahead of them, to survey 43 km2 of coastal country within the Ngarluma Determination Area. The Survey Area is located between the North West Coastal Highway and the coast but does not include Cleaverville, Mount Anketell or Dixon Island.

The Survey Team is using a hybrid recording methodology agreed to by the Government, to record the many Aboriginal Heritage Locations including quarries, artefact scatters, shell middens, rock shelters and engravings being located during the course of the survey.

Since the early 1980â€s, there have been a variety of heritage related surveys conducted in the area, but this is the first time that such a large area of land has been systematically examined for evidence of Ngarluma heritage with the full involvement and under the control of the Ngarluma native title holders.

We are very grateful for the support and trust provided to us by the Ngarluma people, the NAC and the Government, in being the Project Manager for this significant survey, which we hope, will result in a better understanding of the cultural heritage values of the Ngarluma people enabling the protection of their sites into the future.

a) If a Member fails to attend three (3) or more consecutive General Meetings of the corporation without providing a reasonable excuse to the Corporation, the Corporation may recommend to the Ngarluma Benefits Trust that the Ngarluma Benefits Trust suspend paying any benefits to the Member for a period of no more than 12 months (“Suspension Recommendation”).

b) Before making a Suspension Recommendation, the Directors must give the Member notice in writing stating that:

        I) The Directors intend to make a suspension recommendation following the failure of the Member to attend three (3) or more consecutive General meetings : and

           II) The Member has 14 days to provide a reasonable excuse in writing for failing to attend one or more General meetings :

c) If the Member does not provide a reasonable excuse (to the satisfaction of the Directors) the Directors may proceed to make the Suspension Recommendation on behalf of the Corporation.

Chief executive Paul Stenson said the agreement was the culmination of extensive and wide ranging negotiation with the State Government.

Click here to download the full media release 

We are building a Register that will allow us to give interested parties your contact details for employment and training purposes. I have attached a form if you can download and print this we would ask you to fill it out and fax or return to the NAC office so we can add your information to the register.

We would also like to have a register of local aboriginal businesses in the Pilbara so that we can also pass on information on your behalf, if you would like to be on this register could you please let the office know the company details.

Any questions please do not hesitate to call the office.

Download our Skills Audit Ngarluma Traditional Owners Database Form

NAC OFFICE HAS RELOCATED TO

UNIT 61, 5 SHARPE AVE

KARRATHA 6714

(ABOVE THE TELSTRA BUSINESS CENTRE)