2013 ANNUAL REPORT KIMBERLEY LAND COUNCIL Kimberley Land Council Members Report 2013 I 1 BROOME DERBY KUNUNURRA 36 Pembroke Rd Broome WA 47 Loch St Derby WA Speargrass Rd Kununurra WA PO Box 2145 Broome WA 6725 PO Box 377 Derby WA 6728 PO Box 821 Kununurra WA 6743 T: (08) 9194 0100 F: (08) 9193 6279 T: (08) 9194 0175 F: (08) 9193 1163 T: (08) 9194 0190 F: (08) 9168 1509 www.klc.org.au www.klc.org.au www.klc.org.au 2 I Kimberley Land Council Annual Report 2013 CONTENTS Introduction & Overview 4 Our Mission, Vision & Values 5 Co-Chair Report 6 Board of Directors 7 CEO Report 8 Our Organisation 10 Kimberley Land Council 12 Role & Functions 13 Organisational Structure 14 Executive Roles & Responsibilities 15 Corporate Governance 16 Human Resources 19 Performance Report 20 Native Title Climate 22 Native Title Claim Updates 24 Looking After Country 36 Land & Sea Management 38 Projects 39 Kimberley Ranger Network & 43 Indigenous Protected Areas Glossary 53 Financial Statements 66 Kimberley Land Council Members Report 2013 I 3 INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW The Kimberley Land Council (KLC) was established in 1978 following a dispute between Kimberley Aboriginal people, the West Australian Government and an international mining company at Noonkanbah. The KLC was set up by Kimberley Aboriginal people as a peak regional community organisation, to secure the rights and interests of Kimberley Aboriginal people in relation to their land and waters and to protect their significant places. The KLC has experienced rapid growth in recent years. While fulfilling our role as a Native Title Representative Body remains the core business of our organisation, we have expanded to include a broad range of programs and activities that help us to achieve the vision of our members. As part of our Native Title Representative Body funding agreement with the Commonwealth Government, the KLC is required to present detailed information on its functions in our Annual Report. This report also includes information on other aspects of our organisation to reflect the full diversity of our operations. 4 I Kimberley Land Council Annual Report 2013 OUR MISSION, VISION & VALUES Our Vision • Develop and implement policies, strategies and activities that deliver a high-standard of services to Traditional The Kimberley Land Council is a community organisation Owners to achieve our vision working for and with Traditional Owners of the Kimberley to get back country, to look after country and get control of the • Develop and implement sound, appropriate and effective future. planning and review processes and documents Our Mission Values • Respect for our law and culture Aims • Respect for our elders and stakeholders • To get back country • Fair and transparent decision-making • To look after country • Effective and open communication • To get control of the future • Working in partnership • To have a strong organisation • Trust and loyalty Objectives • Justice and equality for Indigenous people • Improve the cultural, social and economic wellbeing of Kimberley Aboriginal people • Cultural diversity • Operate as an effective body to secure rights for and deliver the aspirations of Kimberley Traditional Owners Kimberley Land Council Members Report 2013 I 5 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN The KLC has worked with Traditional Owners to get country back and today about 70 per cent of the Kimberley is determined native title land. This is a big achievement and we hope to build on this in the near future through our focus on progressing the remaining claims. We are also leading the way in looking after country at a regional, national and international level. Our land management activities have grown to include carbon abatement and climate change, while the Kimberley Ranger Network has 14 groups working to achieve land management outcomes across the region. Indigenous Protected Areas in the Kimberley form one of the largest Indigenous conservation areas in Australia and through pursuing our vision to forge international partnerships we have been able to take the KLC brand across the globe. We are working to create an International Knowledge Sharing Network so we can work with This year marks the 35th other Indigenous people to tackle environmental challenges on a global scale. anniversary of the Kimberley Land We are also working to create strong and bright futures Council. for Kimberley mob through pursuing sustainable economic opportunities that will create wealth in our communities while enhancing our traditional knowledge and culture and Our organisation has achieved so protecting our environment. much since that day in 1978, when The KLC has been able to achieve great success for Kimberley Aboriginal people because of the strong leaders we have had the KLC was formed at a bush supporting us and guiding our organisation. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our directors for their hard work meeting in Noonkanbah. and dedication in developing the KLC into what it is today and for creating a vision for the future. We have faced many challenges and as an Aboriginal people I would also like to acknowledge the professionalism and we still have a long way to go but we have stood strong in dedication of the KLC’s management team and all our staff for the face of adversity and worked hard to deliver results for proactively working to deliver solid outcomes for our people. Kimberley Aboriginal people. Our members are the backbone of our organisation and In 1978, we wanted to create an Aboriginal organisation to through their continued support we have been able to stand represent our people, to fight for our rights and to help us strong and united. build strong futures. The KLC is that organisation. Our cultural values underpin the KLC and everything we do. In the last 35 years, we have worked hard to develop the KLC Our strength lies in our culture and we are committed to into the successful and professional organisation it is today. delivering positive results into the future. We have grown to become one of the biggest employers in the Kimberley with more than 100 staff plus another 100 rangers and cultural advisers. FRANK DAVEY We have a Corporate Services Unit, Finance Unit, Native Title Unit and a Land and Sea Management Unit. We not only work to get back country, we also work to look after our country and to get control of our future. 6 I Kimberley Land Council Annual Report 2013 MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF CHAIRMAN DIRECTORS Chairman Frank Davey Deputy Chairman Special Adviser Special Adviser Special Adviser Special Adviser Bardi Jawi Tom Birch Irene Davey Joe Brown John Watson Joe Davey Balanggarra Bardi Jawi Ngurrara Nyikina Mangala Bardi Jawi Special Adviser Albert Cox Anthony Watson Bonnie Edwards Francis (Lulga) Frankie McCarthy Wayne Bergmann Nimanburru Nyikina Mangala Jaru Djiagween Ngurrara Nyikina Mangala Yawuru Josey Farrer Lee Bevan Lennie Hopiga Marty Stevens Mary Tarran Merle Carter Ngarrawanji Nyul Nyul Karajarri Yurriyangem Taam Goolarabooloo Miriwung Gajerrong Jabirr Jabirr Mervyn Street Nolan Hunter Patsy Bedford Pearl Gordon Percy Bulgardie Serena Samuel Gooniyandi KLC CEO Bunuba Purnululu Noonkanbah Tjurabalan Shirley Purdie Tom Lawford Yvonne Birrell Marlarngowem Kurungal Koonjie-Elvire Kimberley Land Council Members Report 2013 I 7 CEO REPORT outstanding achievement for the KLC and we hope that future claims in the Kimberley, can and will be settled by consent rather than litigation. We have also been working to progress other native title claims in the Kimberley and much time has been dedicated to the Middle Dampier Peninsula, where we are expecting to strategically consolidate claims across the area into one large claim. Native title claimants on the Middle Dampier Peninsula share the same system of laws and customs and feel that resolving native title together as the one society rather than individual tribal groups would be a better and hopedully faster way to resolve native title. Getting back country is the core aim of the KLC and at the end of the reporting period about 70 per cent of the Kimberley was determined native title land. We hope to build on this into the The KLC continues to work with future. The KLC is pursuing the development of an International determination, innovation and Knowledge Sharing Network that links Indigenous people professionalism to achieve the from across the world so we can work together to tackle environmental challenges on a global scale. aspirations of Kimberley Aboriginal In line with our strategic vision to develop the network, the KLC hosted an International Ranger Forum with special guests people. the Comcacc from Mexico. The forum was a grass-roots event that highlighted the important contribution Indigenous people Our focus, as always, is to get positive native title results for make to preserving and enhancing the natural environment. our clients because native title is central to everything we do. The event was a precursor to the World Indigenous Network Native title provides people with the rights to look after Conference, of which the KLC played an integral role in country, to make decisions about country and to create developing the idea for WIN. A contingent of KLC leaders and economic wealth from country. land managers will attend the prestigious WILD10! Conference in Spain in October 2013, to continue to build momentum for In the reporting period, the KLC achieved some great results the network. including the determination of native title for the Bunuba and Gooniyandi people of the central Kimberley region. Both Our international focus builds upon opportunities we are groups had been waiting decades to be recognised as the creating in the Kimberley through the emergence of eco- owners of their country. system based markets. Kimberley Aboriginal people are doing business differently and are working to develop sustainable The KLC successfully negotiated with parties for the Nyikina economies that provide the right cultural match but also Mangala native title claim to be settled by consent rather than work to enhance the natural environment while generating litigation.