Yamaji Voice in Geraldton: Indigenous Solidarity with Palestine Echoes Shared History

Yamaji Solidarity in Geraldton: A Voice for Palestine from the Foreshore of Jambinu

Crowd of approximately 50 people gathering at Edith Cowan Gardens for the solidarity march

GERALDTON, WA – On the foreshore of Jambinu (Geraldton), a group of around 50 people gathered today at Stow Gardens for a march in solidarity with Palestine. Among them was Izzy, a Yamaji Malpa woman with deep connections to Nagajaa, Malgana, and Yaml lands, who offered a powerful Indigenous perspective on the global crisis.

A Bond Forged in Shared Trauma

Speaking on the march, Izzy drew a direct line between the historical suffering of Yamaji people and the current Genocide of Palestinians, highlighting a connection rooted in shared experience.

“The trauma of genocide creates a deep‑rooted bond— the same blood‑memory that links my Yamaji ancestors to this land and now ties us to Palestinians enduring displacement.”
Izzy, Yamaji Malpa Woman

Izzy the Yamaji poses for a portrait along the foreshore of Jambinu

Historical Echoes of Displacement in the Midwest

This perspective is deeply rooted in local history. From the 1850s onwards, pastoralist records document the ongoing displacement and massacres of Yamaji people in the region. Much of this history, long hidden, was recently brought to a wider audience by an in-depth investigation by The Guardian Australia, titled: The Killing Times: The Brutal Truth of Settler Diaries.

A young person carries a poster in support of Palestine

Mixed Reactions in a Small Town

While the rally proceeded peacefully, it was not without friction. A small but vocal minority drove past, yelling hostile phrases. In a sad illustration of the divisions even within the Indigenous community, a young Yamaji boy was seen following the marchers, chanting for the opposing side. This incident highlights what some might see as a need for more education and storytelling within the community, to foster compassion for global struggles that mirror local history.

The foreshore area of Jambinu (Geraldton) where the solidarity march was held

A Final Message of Connection

Before concluding the interview, Izzy shared a final statement, reinforcing the core message of the day: that the fight for justice is universal.

“Our solidarity springs from recognizing that both Yamaji peoples and Palestinians carry the same wound of land loss; this shared trauma is the foundation of our connection.”
Izzy, Yamaji Malpa Woman

Solidarity march participants showing unity and support for Palestinian people

*Reported and photographed by Tamati The Yamaji*

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