Native title recognition

[admin]

Native title recognition for Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara
11/05/2011

The Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara People have today become recognised as native title holders of 78, 672 sq km of land and waters in the north west of South Australia.

At a Federal Court hearing in Coober Pedy, Justice John Mansfield made a consent determination recognising the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara People’s non-exclusive native title rights and interests to that area.

The consent determination finalises the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara claim that was lodged in 1995. The Court has recognised their non-exclusive rights to hunt, fish, live, camp, gather and use the natural resources, undertake cultural activities including relating to births and deaths, conduct ceremonies and meetings, and protect places of cultural and religious significance.

In conjunction with the special sitting of the Court pastoralists, the SA Government and the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara People have entered into a number of pastoral ILUAs that set out the terms of the ongoing relationship between the pastoralists and the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara People. It is also anticipated that the SA Government, the District Council of Coober Pedy and the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara People will shortly sign an ILUA regarding the Breakaways Reserve which is of special significance to the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara People. The parties want to ensure this outback icon will continue to be enjoyed including by local people and tourists for its ecology, cultural heritage and natural beauty.

Tribunal Deputy President Chris Sumner said today’s outcome was the culmination of many years of careful negotiation, perseverance and good will by all parties, including the resolution by mediation of some overlapping native title claims.

“The resolution of this application results in the formal recognition of the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara People’s ancient ties to the land,” Mr Sumner said.

“All the parties involved in the process leading to today’s outcome are to be congratulated for their willingness to work together to achieve a fair result. In particular the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara People and their representatives have worked with dedication and commitment to achieve this result. “

“It’s been a lengthy process but the parties have carefully considered the issues, cultivating understanding of one another’s perspectives. They can now get on with their lives knowing that their rights are recognised and protected.”

This is the fifth determination in South Australia, following the contested determination of De Rose Hill in 2005, and the consent determinations of Yankunytjatjara/Antakirinja in 2006, Witjira National Park in 2008 and Adnyamathanha People in 2009.

“This determination is a further example of what can be achieved when all those involved in the native title process – the Federal Court, the Tribunal, South Australian Native Title Services, the SA Government and legal and anthropological advisors – work together in a cooperative way, which is a strong feature of native title negotiations in South Australia,” Mr Sumner said.

“More determinations - achieved through the Court’s case management, the Tribunal’s mediation and the active cooperation of all parties - are expected to be made by consent in the not-too-distant future.“
South Australian state manager Jane Koehne
- - -

Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara native title recognition

11th May 2011

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland today welcomed the Federal Court’s recognition of native title rights in the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara claim around Coober Pedy in South Australia.

The consent determination covers approximately 75,991 sq kilometres, and is the first South Australian native title settlement to which the Australian Government has been a party.

The determination recognises the traditional owners’ native title rights and interests, such as the right to access the area, camp, hunt and fish and conduct ceremonies on the land.

Mr McClelland congratulated all parties in reaching this agreement.

“Today’s settlement is a significant achievement for all involved, and an important recognition of the Antakirinja Matu Yankunytjatjara people’s ongoing relationship with their traditional lands,” Mr McClelland said.

“The Australian Government supports the resolution of native title by agreement.

“Native title agreements demonstrate the enduring benefits that can be achieved through native title when parties choose to negotiate, rather than litigate.

“Today’s settlement, along with the recent landmark of the 500th Indigenous Land Use Agreement registered with the National Native Title Tribunal, demonstrates that the native title system is capable of delivering a range of outcomes, including economic opportunities.”

The Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara native title consent determination hearing was held in Coober Pedy, South Australia.

Contact: Ryan Liddell - 02 6277 7300

[admin]

Turtle Island Native Network
http://www.turtleisland.org

Historic respect and recognition of Aboriginal Rights in Australia . . .

May 23, 2011
The Federal Court has issued a groundbreaking Native Title decision in favour of the Wanjina Wunggurr claimants, returning control as traditional landowners of 26,000 square kilometers of land in Kimberly.

Native Title is a powerful right that means governments and industry will have to negotiate agreements with the traditional owners before anything is done on their traditional lands.

Upon receiving news of the Court's decision, the Wanjina Wunggurr community immediately put their stamp on the region, by declaring it an Indigenous Protected Area, covering more than 340,000 hectares.
- - -
Uunguu - a conservation milestone in the Kimberley

Media release
23 May 2011

More than 3,400 square kilometres of spectacular north Kimberley coastline will be protected with the declaration today of the Uunguu Indigenous Protected Area (IPA).

At ceremonies near the remote settlement of Garmbemirri, the Federal Court of Australia granted the traditional owners native title over 26,000 square kilometres of the Kimberley - and the traditional owners immediately declared that part of this country would be formally managed for conservation.

Environment Minister Tony Burke sent his congratulations to hundreds of traditional owners who had travelled across the Kimberley for the historic ceremonies.

"This is a groundbreaking decision for the Wunambal Gaambera people - and a great conservation gift to all Australians," Mr Burke said.

"Uunguu, meaning 'living home', abounds in native wildlife including many threatened species. Dolphins, dugong and marine turtles are found in seagrass beds off the coast and sand goanna, bush turkey, euro and rock wallabies live in spectacular woodland and escarpment country.

"Countless significant rock art sites form one of the most stunning open air art galleries in Western Australia."

Mr Burke said the Australian Government had made a $23.7 million funding commitment through Working on Country to employ over 65 Aboriginal rangers in the Kimberley region by June 2013.

"We've invested in the Uunguu ranger group to provide jobs on country as part of that commitment. We've also invested $740,000 over three years to support the Wunambal Gaambera people to manage their IPA and to work towards protecting their entire country," he said.

"Indigenous Protected Areas and Working on Country rangers are one of Australia's most successful conservation stories - they protect Australia's biodiversity while providing training and employment for Aboriginal people doing work that they love on their own country. It is a significant investment in Closing the Gap of Indigenous disadvantage."

Mr Burke also thanked not-for-profit organisation Bush Heritage Australia for helping the Wunambal Gaambera people develop their Uunguu healthy country management plan.

"It's fantastic to see partnerships like this between the Australian Government, a not-for-profit organisation and a local community to achieve great environmental outcomes," he said.

Bush Heritage chief executive Doug Humann said Bush Heritage had signed a new 10-year agreement with the Wunambal Gaambera people to help manage their IPA.

"This valuable partnership demonstrates a key part of our mission - to work with Indigenous people to manage and protect high conservation value landscapes. Few landscapes are more important for conservation than those of the Wunambal Gaambera in the Kimberley," Mr Humann said.

For more information about Uunguu IPA: www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/ipa/declared/uunguu
- - -

Wanjina-Wunggurr Uunguu native title recognition

23 May 2011

Attorney-General Robert McClelland today welcomed the Federal Court’s recognition of native title rights in the Wanjina-Wunggurr Uunguu claim in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The consent determination covers approximately 25,909 square kilometres of land and sea, and recognises both exclusive and non-exclusive native title rights over the claim area.

The traditional owners’ native title rights include the right to live, camp, hunt and fish and engage in cultural activities on the land.

“Agreement on the determination was reached through a constructive approach, using mediation rather than litigation,” Mr McClelland said.

“The settlement is a significant achievement for all involved, and an important recognition of the Wanjina-Wunggurr Uunguu people’s ongoing relationship with their traditional lands.”

The Wanjina-Wunggurr Uunguu native title consent determination hearing was held at Garmbemirri in the Kimberley.