History of Gumala
In 1996, the Niapiali, Bunjima and Innawonga peoples negotiated and signed an historical Yandi Land Use Agreement with Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd. (now Pilbara Iron).
Gumala Aboriginal Corporation was created to represent the collective interests of the Traditional Owners in the negotiations with Hamersley Iron and to develop and sign the Yandi Agreement. “Gumala” is an Aboriginal word in the Bunjima Language meaning “all together”.
The Yandi Agreement was the first major land use agreement to be signed in Australia and meant that Hamersley Iron was able to proceed with the Yandicoogina Mine which is located in the Hamersley Ranges in the central Pilbara region which is Bunjima, Innawonga and Niapiali land. Tom price is the nearest town and is approximately 120km west of the Yandicoogina Mine.
The Yandi Agreement ensures that Hamersley Iron will deliver the following benefits to the Traditional Owners for the life of the mine:
- Training and employment,
- Support for pastoral station operations,
- Heritage protection work,
- In-kind assistance for community development, and
- An income stream;
The life of the mine was initially expected to be 20 years however it is likely that this will be extended via the options which are available under the Yandi Agreement. The Yandi Agreement sets out how income and other benefits are to be managed and distributed to the Traditional Owners.
Two charitable trusts were established for the distribution of the income from the Yandi Agreement – the General Foundation and the Foundation for the Elderly and Infirm. During the first five years income from the Yandi Agreement went to the Foundation for the Elderly and Infirm and the General Foundation. However, the General Foundation is now the only trust still in operation.