An agreement between local Indigenous groups and mining company Rio Tinto sealed last week may allow about 40 new iron-ore mines to operate in WA's Pilbara region.
Aboriginal owners are set to receive more than $2 billion over 40 years in a deal which cover a 70,000 km area.
The Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation covers four of the five claim groups.
Its chief executive, Simon Hawkins, told Ron Sutton he considers the deal very important on many fronts.
