Fortescue Metals Group (FMG)

Yindjibarndi call on WA Government to appoint mediator in dispute with FMG

Kailash — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:19:15 +0100

Roebourne, WA – The Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) is calling on the State Government to step in to help end the bitter dispute between the Yindjibarndi people and iron ore producer FMG over a proposed multi billion dollar mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

The parties have so far failed to reach what the YAC believes is a fair and equitable agreement for access to mine country south of Roebourne, which the Yindjibarndi call home.

YAC Chief Executive Michael Woodley says last night’s ABC’s Four Corners investigation highlighted the broken relationship with FMG, and he

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal people take on WA FMG mining magnate

Kailash — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:33:48 +0100

In the beautiful rugged Pilbara region of north Western Australia a struggle is being played out between a timeless culture and a culture and ideology which is threatening the vitality of humanity itself.

On one side are the proud Yindjibarndi people, who wish to preserve their culture, customs, language, way of life and country which embodies their spirit.

Mining and American Indians Still Don’t Mix

Kailash — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 09:33:24 +0000

The Native American community has a long, troubled history with mining interests, and today that history is catching up with us in Arizona. From a new push for uranium mining at the Grand Canyon to the ongoing battle over Resolution Copper, it’s not too much to say my home state tribes are under siege.
Many of us remember the decades of cancer deaths and cover-ups the Navajo Nation endured during the Cold War uranium boom.

State Back Flips on FMG Conditions – Way Now Clear for Final Obliteration of Yindjibarndi Heritage

Kailash — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 09:54:26 +0100

Last Tuesday, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Peter Collier, reneged on an earlier commitment to hold Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) accountable for identification and protection of Yindjibarndi heritage in the path of its Solomon Project mine. After FMG demanded that critical conditions of his consent be deleted, Minister Collier complied, clearing the way for wholesale destruction of rare and ancient Yindjibarndi heritage.
Yindjibarndi CEO, Michael Woodley, said “This is a Christmas from hell for us. It is a weak and morally wrong decision from Mr Collier.

Australia: Congress Brings First Peoples, Industry and Government Together for Talks

whit — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 10:12:58 +0100

Please find below news of a meeting in Australia, organised by the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples to review relations with Australian Indigenous Peoples and the extractive industries.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples attended, in order to inform his on-going study on the issue (in fact his latest report to the Human Rights Council has been release – http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session...).

The Special Rapporteur also visited the Njamal people of the Pilbara region, where Fortescue Metals

Native Title Boss Didn't Reveal Ties with FMG

whit — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:43:58 +0000

THE National Native Title Tribunal has admitted a senior executive failed to declare her ownership of a consulting firm that facilitated access to Aboriginal land by mining companies.

Nor did the NNTT’s former West Australian state manager, Lillian Maher, declare her relationship with two employees of Fortescue Metals Group, which benefited from tribunal decisions.

It is alleged Ms Maher regularly briefed her partner, Michael Gallagher, about proceedings at the tribunal that affected FMG, according to a lawyer who worked with Mr Gallagher.

At about the same time, Ms Maher’s firm MGA

Federal Court win by Yindjibarndi means Fortescue must negotiate with them

whit — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 10:24:02 +0000

On Tuesday February 12, the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) won a huge outcome in the Federal Court with Justice Neil Kerracher stating that only the YAC are authorised to negotiate with mining companies over certain Yindjibarndi Country. The claim area includes the vacant Crown land where Fortescue Metals Group is developing the Firetail mine site.

Australia - Pilbara indigenous community split over Fortescue mine claim

whit — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 11:21:22 +0100

Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest is a champion of indigenous people, a mining magnate who grew up with blackfellas in the outback and has overseen the hiring of thousands of Aborigines at his iron ore mines in Western Australia’s vast Pilbara region.

Michael Woodley is a firebrand Aboriginal leader from the impoverished town of Roebourne who views Forrest as a mega-rich white paternalist leading a mining company that cares little for his people and acts purely in its own commercial interests.

Both sons of the Pilbara with strong connections to the land, Forrest and Woodley have vastly d