Our history

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this page may contain images and names of people who have passed away.

 

The Beginning of the Gumala Trust

The Gumala Trust (Gumala Investments Pty Ltd) was established in 1997 to act as Trustee of the General Gumala Foundation (GGF) on behalf of the Traditional Owners of the Banjima, Nyiyaparli and Yinhawangka peoples.

Since then, around 40 Directors have served on the Gumala Trust Board, guiding decisions and achieving many important outcomes for our Beneficiaries.

The Yandi Land Use Agreement and Native Title

The Yandi Land Use Agreement (YLUA) was negotiated with Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd (now Rio Tinto) for the Yandicoogina iron ore project. The agreement covers mining and infrastructure titles for the life of the project, as well as exploration across the claim area.

This was a landmark moment. Signed in 1997, the YLUA was the first major land‑use agreement in Western Australia after the 1992 Mabo decision. It took more than twelve months of negotiation to complete. At the start, no native title claim had been lodged. It was only after the Banjima, Nyiyaparli and Yinhawangka peoples came together that they decided to make a joint claim and negotiate as one group.

Although negotiations began outside the scope of the Native Title Act, once agreement was reached it became necessary to provide Hamersley Iron with the legislative certainty required for the project.

A Landmark Case Study

Because the YLUA predated the 1998 amendments to the Native Title Act, it could not be registered as an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA). The negotiation process was documented by mediator Clive Senior, who highlighted the importance of careful planning and respectful dialogue. His work is now recognised as an important case study for industry, offering valuable lessons on how to commence and carry out effective negotiations for major projects.