Pilbara’s Yule River on-country bush meeting cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns

The annual Yule River meeting has been cancelled because of rising COVID-19 cases and low vaccination rates in the Pilbara region. The Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation confirmed it cancelled its eighth on-country bush meeting on Tuesday, saying it wasn’t an easy decision to make but concerns are held for community members and the ongoing pandemic. The Pilbara region has 1308 active cases of COVID-19, with a low first-dose vaccination rate of only 33,662. In all, 66,009 people have been vaccinated in the region. The Yule River meeting is a congregation of Pilbara’s traditional owners where they discuss community concerns to leaders and politicians. The YMAC said they will look to reschedule the annual meeting for later in the year. “We have taken into consideration health and safety requirements in the event location to ensure vulnerable community members remain safe, the risks for participants in attending a large gathering, and availability of staff to help run the event,” a statement read. “YMAC will be considering new options in coming months to enable us to engage with the community on important issues, as well as creating opportunity to provide input into future directions for the Yule River gatherings.” The two-day event supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members with cultural decision-making, as well as provides an opportunity for discussion with parliamentarians and government representatives. Day one is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to come together from across the region and discuss resolutions and changes for areas of concern. Day two welcomes the State and Federal ministers to hear about these ideas, and collectively discuss with the traditional owners ways to create change.