'Bringing Out Stories in our Young People'

In 2001 the Yiriman Project, an award-winning cultural youth diversionary project designed and governed by Elders of the region, began servicing remote communities of the Nyikina, Mangala, Karajarri and Walmajarri language groups within the Kimberley region.

A community-initiated and community-driven project supported by the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre (KALACC), it's success has been due to the use of models developed during this time to assist the local indigenous youth at risk in a culturally appropriate manner through the guidance of senior people and links fostered with local agencies. The picture above shows a group of local men in training through the Kimberley Regional Fire Management Project to deal with fires and emergencies. This program helps to show the participants what they are capable of and broaden their opportunities and skills.

The area covered by the project extends from Bidyadanga in the west Kimberley to Balgo in the central south. Recently Yiriman has also supported relevant projects in the wider Fitzroy Valley.

"This organisation has showed good feeling about young people changing, coming good, wanting to do more of these sort of walks and back to country trips, looking after country, jila (water) and looking after animals. We want to do more of that - instead of walking around town, those places where suicide, drinking and other bad things happening around town and communities. Young people got no jobs, no future, we gotta show them their base. If we don't show'em country and identity, your nothing!" - John Watson.