Yindjibarndi people facts for kids

The Yindjibarndi are an Aboriginal Australian people. They come from the Pilbara region in Western Australia. Most Yindjibarndi people live near Roebourne. Their traditional lands are around the Fortescue River.

Their Language

The Yindjibarndi language has about 1,000 speakers. It is similar to the Kurruma language. Many Ngarluma people also speak Yindjibarndi. This happened because they moved to Roebourne during colonisation. The Yindjibarndi have special ways of describing their land. These ideas are unique and do not easily translate into English.

Their Traditional Lands

For a long time, the Yindjibarndi lived along the Fortescue River. They also lived in the nearby uplands. In the 1860s, European farmers started cattle stations on their land. The Yindjibarndi people were then moved into settlements. Today, most of them live in or near Roebourne. This area is also the traditional land of the Ngarluma people.

Protecting Their Land Rights

The Yindjibarndi people have worked hard to protect their land rights. This is called Native Title. It means they have special rights to their traditional lands.

A Long Legal Battle

Andrew Forrest, who leads Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), mines iron ore on Yindjibarndi land. This mine is called the Solomon iron ore hub. FMG and the Yindjibarndi people had a 14-year legal fight. The Yindjibarndi wanted their land rights recognised.

In 2017, the Federal Court of Australia agreed with the Yindjibarndi. They said the Yindjibarndi had special rights over about 2,700 square kilometers of land. FMG tried to appeal this decision. But in 2020, the court confirmed its decision again. This meant the Yindjibarndi's land rights were secure.

Agreements and Community Support

The Yindjibarndi people also have an agreement with Woodside Energy. This agreement is for the North West Shelf Gas Project. It was made in 1998. Under this agreement, the Yindjibarndi and Ngarluma people are the traditional owners. They represent the area of the North West Shelf Project. This includes the Karratha Gas Plant.

The 1998 agreement also created the Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd (NYFL). NYFL is still based in Roebourne. It helps the Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi people. NYFL also supports the wider Roebourne community. It provides social and economic benefits for everyone.

Seeking Fair Compensation

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported in January 2023:

The Yindjibarndi people are seeking payment from Fortescue Metals Group (FMG). This is because FMG mined on their land. The High Court confirmed the Yindjibarndi as traditional owners in 2020. This happened after a long dispute with the mining company.

The Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) represents the traditional owners. They asked the Federal Court to decide on compensation. This was after talks about a land use agreement failed.

The 2020 court decision said YAC has "exclusive possession" of their country. This means they can ask for payment for economic and cultural losses. FMG was mining on Yindjibarndi land without their full permission.