Ochre has been mined at Wilgie Mia in the Weld Range by Aboriginal people for thousands of years. It is believed to be the oldest continuous mining operation in the world. The Wajarri Yamaji — the Wajarri group is the largest in the Murchison and Gascoyne regions) — are custodians of the area.

The ochre is used for decorating bodies and ceremonial implements, for rock painting and has been a sought after trading item for centuries. Traces of the exquisite coloured stone have been found as far away as Northern Queensland (The Australian).

During ceremonies, bodies and hair were smeared with a mixture of grease and red ochre. This act was imbued with ritual and sacred significance as the red ochre symbolized the 'metamorphosed blood' of Dreaming ancestral spirits, such as the mythical marlu (red kangaroo). In a metaphysical sense red ochre and blood are the same substance so red ochre is a source of strength and courage. (Savage and Dennison)

The ochre was mined by crawling deep into the ground via a small tunnel and nearby areas show all the signs of being what traditional elder Colin Hamlett calls 'a stone age factory' where tools and cutting blades were created. The Weld Ranges, situated 500kms east of Geraldton is also the site of a diplomatic rarity – a 'genuinely amiable and respectful' (Savage and Dennison) relationship between the Aboriginal custodians and the iron ore miners. Chinese based iron-ore group Sinosteel are working within a 2008 agreement negotiated by its (former) joint venture partner, Midwest Corporation Ltd in tandem with local Aboriginal people.

The plan is to extract 300 million tonnes of the low grade ore while actively conserving certain areas as no-mine zones and providing rehabilitation and compensation where disturbance occurs. The next stage is to ship the ore out of the as yet unbuilt deep-water port at Oakajee via a rail link - and as was reported in The Australian newspaper in early January – therein lies the biggest obstacle. Oakajee Port still faces big financial, environmental and human challenges to its projected existence.

What is clear is that great projects for Aboriginal people are being funded by the seeding money for this massive mining project and the Midwest is to get world class mining practices carried out in a spirit of mutual respect – well, that is the Great White/Black Hope. Colin Hamlett's custodianship requires him to remain sceptical about the impact of mining until results prove the company remains sincere when it comes to the crunch. Stay tuned.

Ethical Engagement Consultancy represents and is run by the traditional owners of the Weld Range.

Director: Raina Savage 0437 901 532 raina.savage@ethicalengagement.com.au Sources: Raina Savage, Amy Dennison for their paper Your Mine or Mine: Striking the balance between development and culture and Graham Lloyd, a front page article in the Australian, January 2011.