Yiriman Project

The Yiriman Project was conceived and developed by the elders of four Kimberly language groups; Nyikina, Mangala, Karajarri and Walmajarri. The elders were concerned about their young people and issues of self-harm and substance abuse and saw the need for a place where youth could separate themselves from negative influences, and reconnect with their culture in a remote and culturally significant place.

Yiriman has two aspects to its governance and management processes. The management processes are undertaken by the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre (KALACC). KALACC auspices the Yiriman project and attend to issues of financial management, staff employment, reporting and acquittals however Yiriman retains its own project governance structure which is independent from that of KALACC.

In 2012 Yiriman received first place in the Indigenous Governance Awards – Winner of outstanding example of Indigenous Governance in a non-incorporated initiative or project http://governance.reconciliation.org.au/case-studies/the-yiriman-project

Yiriman’s governance works because there is and always has been a very clear sense of who established the project, why they established the project and what they want the project to achieve.

http://www.yiriman.org.au/