A new Yued Heritage Protection Agreement with Carbon Positive Australia establishes processes by which consideration is given to activities planned by project proponents, and gives non-Aboriginal people an opportunity to learn from Yued knowledge holders about how to work respectfully in locations governed by Yued cultural protocols.
Announcing the agreement on Friday, Yued Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Rewi Lyall said that the processes under a Yued Heritage Protection Agreement "give clear guidance about where non-Aboriginal people should steer clear and where they need to be accompanied by Yued".
"Carbon Positive Australia knows that asking for this advice is integral to a respectful relationship," he said.
Yued Aboriginal Corporation noted that when people think about harming cultural heritage they might think about digging up burial places, chopping down sacred trees or, in extreme cases, blowing up ancient caves, but this "doesn't consider cultural heritage that limits who is allowed to even enter certain places".
The organisation said that while many people know that some places are sacred for women and some for men, "without proper guidance most non-Aboriginal people wouldn't know where to avoid".
Under a Yued Heritage Protection Agreement (YHPA), proponents submit their planned Activity Notice which is considered by Yued Aboriginal Corporation's Cultural Advice Committee (CAC). The CAC then provides advice to YAC's management team on how to best ensure that cultural heritage is identified and protected.
Carbon Positive Australia chief executive Joe Heffernan said the company is proud to be working collaboratively with Yued Aboriginal Corporation, "recognising Yued People's ownership and deep knowledge of their Country across thousands of years".
"We believe that restoring native ecosystems and looking after Country is an urgent priority for Australia, and that this agreement represents an exciting step as our organisations progress a shared vision of cultural and ecosystem protection and restoration across Yued Boodja," he said.