KIMBERLEY LAND COUNCIL getting country back caring for country securing the future Newsletter N0 1, 2013 PO BOX 2145 BROOME WA 6725 Ph: (08) 9194 0100 Fax: (08) 9193 6279 www.klc.org.au Bunuba people get native title rights The Federal Court recognised the native title rights and interests of the Bunuba people on December 12 at a special on-country sitting at Geikie Gorge (Danggu). The Bunuba people have been waiting more than 13 years for native title across their country which in- cludes the home of Jandamarra - a fierce Aboriginal warrior who led the resistance against the European takeover. Justice Gilmour handed down the consent determination, granting the Bunuba people land rights across more than 6,000 square Kilometres of country in the Fitzroy Valley. Kimberley Land Council JANUARY 2013 1 Looking Back @ the KLC Australia’s biodiversity hot spots. Five years ago: 2008 The work Kimberley Rangers do is very In 2008, the Kimberley Ranger Program important in maintaining and enhancing started to flourish with eight groups coming country. The program is underpinned on board to look after country. by the cultural values of the Kimberley The groups included the Bardi Jawi, Paruku and each ranger group is supported by IPA, Karajarri, Walmajarri, Nyikina Mangala, a cultural advisory committee of senior Uunguu and Minyirr rangers. community leaders. The Federal Government also started Today, the KLC facilitates 14 ranger groups to fund some of the groups through its across the Kimberley, employing about Caring for Country program which provides 80 Indigenous men and women. The rangers with formal qualifications in Kimberley Ranger Program also annually Conservation and Land Management as employs more than 200 elders and casual well as hands-on experience. rangers to assist in part-time caring for country ranger work. The land area of the Kimberley is 420, 798 square kilometres and is home to some of unnecessarily pursued to the end in court, Ten years ago: 2003 at a great and unnecessary expense in time and resources,’’ he said. At the start of 2003, the KLC was fighting five native title claims through the “It’s time for shift in policy and approach litigation process. These claims included from the State Government.’’ Rubibi, Bardi Jawi, Wanjina Wunggurr Today, the KLC is still facing the same Wilinggin, Miriuwung Gajerrong and issues and is currently preparing the Karajarri. Nyikina Mangala claim for trial after KLC CEO Wayne Bergmann criticised the negotiations with the State Government State Government’s approach to native for a consent determination have reached title saying it was seriously hindering the a stalemate. process through proposing unrealistic and The Federal Court will hold an on-country inadequate offers for settlement. hearing in July this year, to hear Traditional “This is of great concern. Claims are Owner evidence in relation to the Nyikina Mangala native title claim. 2 JANUARY 2013 Kimberley Land Council message from the Chairman This year is shaping up to be a very busy year at the Many native title claims should have been KLC. determined years ago, but we have plugged away We are hopeful of securing positive native title and secured positive determinations. The KLC has determinations for the Gooniyandi and Balanggarra been very successful at getting native title for our claims in the near future. These groups, like most people. in the Kimberley have been waiting a long time for This year is also going to be a very big year for our their native title rights and interests. Kimberley Ranger Program as we work to create We also recently had the Bunuba native title an International Ranger Network in partnership determination at a special on-country hearing with the Federal Government. The KLC has been at Geikie Gorge and we also secured successful working on this initiative for some time and last determinations for the Uunguu B and Ngurrara B year we were involved in several trips overseas to claims late last year. share our knowledge and network with other land management groups. The KLC has and continues to work hard to secure native title for all Kimberley mob. We hope to continue to expand this network through fostering new partnerships with other The KLC was formed out of the land rights battle Indigenous groups across the globe. at Noonkanbah and it was started because it had strong people behind it. Today, we have all of you At the annual KLC AGM held in September 2012, our behind our organisation representing your own members elected a new Board to lead the direction mob but working for the benefit of all Kimberley of the KLC for the next two years. Aboriginal people. We have many new and returning directors, with Because of the strong people behind our a great cross section of skills and knowledge. Our organisation we have been able to secure good, first board meeting was held in Fitzroy Crossing strong native title outcomes. We have had to fight in December last year and included governance many battles and have gone to court many times to training and an induction program. prove what we have always known – that we are the Our future is in good hands. Traditional Owners of our country. In July this year, we will be heading to court again for the Nyikina Mangala claim. We are constantly FRANK DAVEY battling the State Government and third parties for our native title rights, but despite the hard struggle to get native title, we have always done well. Kimberley Land Council JANUARY 2013 3 Board of Directors Co-Chair Tom Birch Co-Chair Frank Davey KLC CEO Nolan Hunter Albert Cox Anthony Watson Bonnie Edwards Balanggarra Bardi Jawi Bardi Jawi Nimanburru Nyikina Mangala Jaru Francis Djiagween Frankie McCarthy Special Adviser Janella Isaac Special Adviser Special Adviser Yawuru Ngurrara Irene Davey Mayala Joe Brown Joe Davey Bardi Jawi Ngurrara Bardi Jawi Special Adviser Josey Farrer Lee Bevan Lennie Hopiga Marty Stevens Mary Tarran John Watson Ngarrawanji Nyul Nyul Karajarri Yurriyangem Taam Goolarabooloo Nyikina Mangala Jabirr Jabirr Merle Carter Mervyn Street Patsy Bedford Pearl Gordon Percy Bulgardie Robin Dann Miriwung Gajerrong Gooniyandi Bunuba Purnululu Noonkanbah Wilimggin Serena Samuel Shirley Purdie Tom Lawford Wayne Bergmann Yvonne Birrell Tjurabalan Marlarngowem Kurungal Nyikina Mangala Koonjie-Elvire 4 JANUARY 2013 Kimberley Land Council Directors Boardupdate Congratulations to all our new and returning board members KLC Chairman Frank Davey, KLC Deputy Chairman Tom Birch, Shirley Purdie, Marty Stevens,Serena Samuel, Frankie McCarthy, Tom Lawford, Patsy Bedford, Percy Bulgardie, Francis Djiagween, Janella Issac & Robin Dann Working together Some words from the December board meeting The KLC Board for 2012-2014 held its first meeting in December. The meeting started with a board induction and governance training to inform directors about their responsibilities as well as about the KLC, its vision, mission and values. The Directors spoke about how they were proud to represent the KLC, as it was a strong organisation with a lot of history. They said many other groups across Australia did not have an organisation, like the KLC to support them and as a result they were just living, not creating better futures. KLC Special adviser Johnny Watson said the KLC was an important organisation for Kimberley mob but he was concerned when people talked bad about the KLC. “KLC started very poor with no money. Looking from money everywhere, it battled on. People used to come in trucks on dusty roads to meetings out in the bush,’’ he said. “I like everyone to be on board and it worries me, people saying they want to cut our legs off. Some people are just coming out of the wood work wanting to undermine the KLC and KRED. “Some of us have been in this battle a long, long time. It’s important for people to work together. I’m the oldest here – the longest man in the KLC now too. We all got to work together for the benefit of our young people coming up. We got to support one another no matter what language.’’ KLC Chairman Frank Davey said it was an important role of Directors to inform their communities about what the KLC does, as criticism often came from people that were not aware of the work we do. “It hurts when people talk bad about the KLC because we are the KLC, the Directors and our members,’’ he said “The old people wanted a voice; a Kimberley voice – that is why we are here. We’ve been hearing out there how good we have been working – and we want that message to be fed back to the people and we can do that by keeping our communities informed.’’ Kimberley Land Council JANUARY 2013 5 Bunuba people get native title rights The Federal Court today recognised the native title renowned Windjana Gorge National Park and Tunnel rights and interests of the Bunuba people across the Creek, the home of Aboriginal warrior Jandamarra, Fitzroy River Valley in the Kimberley after a 13-year will be determined in the near future. battle. Bunuba Traditional Owner June Oscar said she had Justice Gilmour handed down the consent mixed emotions of happiness and sorrow about determination at a special on-country sitting at today’s native title determination. Geikie Gorge (Danggu), granting the Bunuba people “Today is about honouring the fight of our elders land rights across 6,258 square kilometres of past and present who initiated this native title claim country. on behalf of all Bunuba people. We have been The Bunuba people have been waiting more than waiting 13 years for our rights and it is with sadness 13 years to be recognised as the rightful owners of that some of our early leaders cannot be here with their traditional country which includes the Leopold us today to see the fruition of their hard work,’’ she Downs pastoral lease, the Fairfield pastoral lease, said.