KIMBERLEY LAND COUNCIL No. 4 DEC 2016 • GETTING BACK COUNTRY • CARING FOR COUNTRY • SECURING THE FUTURE PO Box 2145 | Broome WA 6725 | Ph: (08) 9194 0100 | Fax: (08) 9193 6279 | www.klc.org.au 2016 AGM STRENGTH SHOWN AT JOINT AGMs FULL STORY PAGE 14 Second native title win for Gooniyandi people The Gooniyandi people have been recognised as the native title holders of a further 184 square kilometres of their country in the central Kimberley. Made over part of the Yarrangi Riwi Yoowarni Gooniyandi native title claim, the consent determination was handed down by Justice Barker of the Federal Court of Australia in Perth on 25 October 2016. The ruling comes after native title was first recognised for the Gooniyandi people, people of the Fitzroy River, in 2013 over 1.12 million hectares of land and water. Continued on page 4. Referendum Council to visit Broome The Kimberley Land Council discussion about Aboriginal and The 1967 referendum was hugely together with the Referendum Torres Strait Islander people successful, with more than 90 per Council will host one of 12 being included in the Constitution cent of Australians voting ‘yes’ to meetings about the Constitution – Australia’s rule book. delete two racially discriminatory that will be held across the nation references in the Constitution. over the coming months. “The Constitution needs to adequately incorporate key A new referendum will start Scheduled for February next considerations for Indigenous a process to reform the year, the Broome meeting will people,” Mr Hunter said. Constitution. invite 100 Indigenous participants from across northern Western “The Constitution has not been A successful referendum is a Australia to discuss changing the updated to reflect Indigenous starting point, but will not fix Australian Constitution. Australians in modern Australian everything. Other changes in society. the form of legislation, policies, The Referendum Council consists “It is outdated and needs reform institutions and governments will of 16 Indigenous and non- to reflect present day first need to occur, but this is a step in Indigenous members appointed Australians.” the right direction. by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. In 1967, a referendum – a national For more information about the vote – was held to ensure that the Referendum Council please visit KLC Chief Executive Officer first Australians were recognsied www.referendumcouncil.org.au Nolan Hunter said the meetings equally as citizens under section will form part of the national 127 of the Constitution. Looking 2010 - 5 YEARS AGO back on KLC Co-Chairs invited to meet the Queen the KLC KLC Co-Chairs Tom Birch and Frank Davey travelled to Perth to meet the Queen at a State Reception Garden Party. More than 1,800 people attended the October 27 event as part of the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM). “Very few people get the experience to come so close to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, so it was a unique opportunity for the KLC to represent all Kimberley Aboriginal people,” Co-Chair Tom Birch said. “Although I didn’t get to meet the Queen there were a number of politicians, celebrities and business leaders we got to speak with and inform and the Kimberley and the work the KLC is doing.” 2 DECEMBER 2016 KIMBERLEY LAND COUNCIL ChairmanMessage from the We’ve reached the end of another year and it has In other news, the KLC has been playing a lead role certainly been a busy and fulfilling 12 months. in advocating for Indigenous people internationally, with KLC CEO Nolan Hunter recently returning from Most recently we have welcomed a new Kimberley COP 22 in Marrakech, Morocco. Land Council Board, saying goodbye to some previous directors, who I thank for their hard work, The trip was an important opportunity to share and welcoming some fresh new faces. knowledge about Indigenous fire management and lobby the Australian Government to further support It is particularly pleasing to see a number of Indigenous knowledge projects. female leaders elected to the board, bringing a strong female voice to the table, as well as new and We have also continued to work closely on varied perspectives about Kimberley Land Council Empowered Communities with Aarnja. Empowered business. Communities is about Indigenous people taking greater responsibility, and developing and leading Native title remains the core business of the KLC their own plans for change. and while it is exciting that 80 per cent of the Kimberley is now native title determined, there is While much has been achieved in 2016, it is still much to do. disappointing that Kimberley Aboriginal people have been left in the dark about the State Government’s The KLC has been working hard to drive a number proposed roadmap for regional services reform. We of claims and trials throughout 2016 as well as still do not know how any reform will be resourced Looking provide support to PBCs across the Kimberley. Most given the State Government’s budget position. recently the Bindunbur trial continued with another week of hearings held in Broome from 28 November Kimberley Land Council members can be assured back on to 2 December, while we continue to make progress that the KLC will continue to fight for Kimberley on the Jaru/Kija native title claim. Aboriginal people. This means advocating for our the KLC communities, speaking out against land reform that It was particularly exciting to see Gooniyandi mob is not in the interests of Traditional Owners and achieve a consent determination over another piece the extinguishment of native title, and standing up of their land in October. Handed down in Perth, the to a State Government that attempts to undermine determination is significant because it makes clear Aboriginal people’s native title rights. that Gooniyandi native title holders can use their native title rights to gain real economic benefits, As Chairman I look forward to working with my as well as social and cultural advantages for their fellow directors to progress the work of the KLC and community. deliver outcomes for the Kimberley mob. Traditional Owners have also united to issue a Fitzroy River Declaration aimed at protecting the river and its tributaries. The declaration sends a strong message to governments and organisations that Kimberley Aboriginal people and native title rights are central to managing the Fitzroy River catchment. ANTHONY WATSON NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2016 3 Second native title win for Gooniyandi people The Gooniyandi people have been recognised as Kimberley Land Council Chief Executive Officer the native title holders of a further 184 square Nolan Hunter said this latest recognition of native kilometres of their country in the central Kimberley. title is important because it provides greater certainty about the rights of Gooniyandi people on Made over part of the Yarrangi Riwi Yoowarni their country, in line with developments in the law. Gooniyandi native title claim, the consent determination was handed down by Justice Barker “In the past, native title rights have been viewed by of the Federal Court of Australia in Perth on 25 some as little more than symbolic, giving Aboriginal October 2016. people limited powers about what happens on country,” Mr Hunter said. The ruling comes after native title was first recognised for the Gooniyandi people, people of the “Today’s ruling is significant as it makes it clear that Fitzroy River, in 2013 over 1.12 million hectares of Gooniyandi native title holders can use their native land and water. title rights to gain real economic, as well as social and cultural benefits for their community. The native title determination covers a portion of pastoral station Fossil Downs and recognises the “However, we still have a long way to go before non-exclusive native title rights and interests of the native title rights are properly acknowledged by Gooniyandi people. government as being equal to the property rights of other Australians, particularly here in Western Gooniyandi Traditional Owner June Davis said the Australia. determination reflected her people’s deep and intrinsic connection to country. “I call on all Australians to stand together to truly recognise the rights of our nation’s first people to “We are very happy about the native title strengthen, rather than weaken, native title rights in determination. It is important because it recognises the future.” that we belong to this land,” she said. The Kimberley Land Council is continuing to work “Native title means that we can continue to pass on with people of the central Kimberley to progress our culture to our younger generations. We can be the remaining portion of the Yarrangi Riwi Yoowarni out on country and keep telling the stories of our Gooniyandi native title claim. people.” 4 DECEMBER 2016 KIMBERLEY LAND COUNCIL Research An enormous amount of Determination that was made on information was gathered, much 19 June 2013. continues for of which was presented to the current claim group at the last The north-west portion of YRYG Part A YRYG meeting in July 2016, with the Yarrangi Riwi Yoowarni the meeting giving Dr Lynes their Gooniyandi claim was Claim approval on the accuracy of her recently resolved by a consent research to date. determination in October 2016, During the second half of July, known as the Yarrangi Riwi anthropologist Dr Heather Since then, Dr Lynes has been Yoowarni Gooniyandi Part B Lynes accompanied many writing up the connection report Determination. of the Traditional Owners of for this area, with plans to visit the Yarrangi Riwi Yoowarni claimants again as soon as Dr Lynes’ research will play a Gooniyand (YRYG) i Part A Claim possible after the wet season. key role in the progression of the Area on a field-trip covering the remaining part of the YRYG Part north-west portion of the claim, The YRYG claim was lodged in A Claim.