As part of NAIDOC Week 2022, some of the amazing people at BHP have shared what NAIDOC week means to them.

Nicola Blurton is a Whadjuk Balladong Woman who lives on Whadjuk Boodjar and works on Tjiwarl Country. She joined BHP in 2018 as a Truck Operator at Mt Keith.

She was promoted to an Ancillary Operator and did step up opportunities, before being approached by the Superintendent at the time to become a full time team lead (leading hand role) in Mining Production. In July 2021 she was promoted to Production Supervisor.

“I currently run pits out at Yakabindie SMW and Goliath. I was a part of the opening works here at Mt Keith when Yakabindie was first mined. Being a part of the team and getting Yak up and running to the fully functional running mine site it is today is something that I am very proud of,” Nicola explained.

Nicola’s workday consists of mentoring, coaching and guiding people new to the industry and also guiding experienced people that are new to site. She always have a full day of interacting with Quarry Managers, Geo Tech, Geology, Engineering and Workshop to create strategy and solve problems throughout the day.

What does NAIDOC Week mean to me?

Spending time with my Moort (family). Passing on knowledge and history to our younger generations. Acknowledgement of achievements of my Family and being involved in culture song and dance.

How will I celebrate NAIDOC Week?

There’s been a lot of acknowledgment on site at BHP which is great. I also look forward to celebrating NAIDOC week with my children and family. I’m particularly look forward to going all the NAIDOC week events, in particular the NAIDOC BALL in Perth ending an awesome week of celebration.

What does the theme ‘Get up! Stand up! Show up!’ mean to me?

It means standing up for what I believe in! And being proud of who I am, where I have come from in my journey as a Noongar Woman. Get up! Stand up! Show up!’ is a way to encourage more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have a voice in matters and concerns that are happening in our country.

What does the Uluru Statement from the Heart mean to you?

Having our voices enshrined in parliament and speaking on our behalf! Who better to talk for our people than our people! Australia’s First Nations Mob, Our Mob.

This verse from my sister Natasha Eldridge and Beni Bjah’s song called ‘Statement from the Heart’ sums it up best: “ We don’t need no one to talk for us, we can speak for ourselves. And we don’t need no one to choose for us, we know what’s best for ourselves. I’m talking about the ‘Uluru Statement from The Heart’”.

We as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People need to come together and have an understanding of our culture, not only now but for our up-and-coming generations. We need to share our stories and pass them onto our children, so they are passed on and taught in generations to come.

Thank you to Nicola (or 'Cola' as she is known to her friends) for sharing your story. We encourage everyone to play their part to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! for NAIDOC Week.