Our History
Yungngora community consists of approximately 400 people and is located at the southern boundary of Noonkanbah station on the banks of the Fitzroy River. The community was established by two elders known as Friday and Ginger, and is home to other language groups as well as the Nyikina people.
Yungngora’s name comes from a billabong nearby. After the 1967 referendum governmental policies and lack of support saw many Aboriginal pastoral workers left in Fitzroy Crossing. Some left in their own right in protest against poor management, low wages, and poor living conditions on the stations. In Fitzroy Crossing Kadjina and Yungnora people moved to the middle and bottom reserves at the powerhouse. They never gave up the hope of one day getting back their land and finally Yungngora was established in the late 70s.
Noonkanbah operates as a 170,000-hectare cattle station and in April 2007, the Yungngora people had their native title recognised. At the Kulkarriya Community School the students speak English as a second or third language, with Kriol, Nyikina and Walmajarri languages spoken at home. The community also has a clinic, a Health and Aged Care (HAC) kitchen and office.
The community is well known for its’ land rights history. Years ago people of Noonkanbah protested strongly against mining, which took the multinational mining exploration company, Amax (backed by the Western Australian Liberal state government) two years before they could drill for oil on sacred land. While drilling eventually proceeded; the determined fight of the local people inspired broad community support and raised Australia’s treatment of Aboriginal people on the international stage.
Our Vision
A safe and thriving collaborative community led by the voices of the Yungngora people that reflects a strong sense of cultural, social, and emotional wellbeing and economic empowerment through jobs and enterprises.
Our Mission
Strong community services, resource management, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building of community members resulting in the improvement of the quality of life for the community and for future generations.
The vision and mission of NAC have been informed by the historical roots of the community: a community that strives to be strong, resilient, and true to its cultural heritage and connections; as it was in the past, so also now and in the years to come.
Guiding Principles
Good governance delivers good performance, minimises risks, ensures transparency and accountability, and promotes the voices and leadership capability of the community members.
Representation from across the community leads to the decisions and activities of NAC reflecting the community demographics and the voices and ideas of a wide cross-section of community members.
Sound management of financial resources and community assets results in positive actions and outcomes for the community. Nookanbah is a community in which the strengths of its members are celebrated and their skills and leadership capacity are built through economic opportunities.
The resilience of community members is strengthened through their connectedness to land, lore, and culture and respect for elders past and present and for its emerging leaders.
Location
Yungngora is a medium-sized Aboriginal community in the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia, situated approximately 280 km east-south-east of Broome and 100 km south-west of Fitzroy Crossing. At the 2016 census, Yungngora had a population of 378.
