Lake Eyre to be renamed Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre

A CEREMONY on Lake Eyre will celebrate the revival of its ancient Aboriginal name, Kati Thanda.

Lake Eyre

A CEREMONY on Lake Eyre will celebrate the revival of its ancient Aboriginal name, Kati Thanda.

Lake Eyre - which when full becomes one of the largest inland seas in the world - will still be recognised by its old name but its official name will be Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre from Saturday.

The renaming, approved by South Australia's Geographical Names Committee in December, follows the granting of native title last May over 70,000 square kilometres of land that included Lake Eyre.

"Many people don't look at native title as a serious thing; they think they don't get any rights or anything from it - but  it is more than that," said  Aaron Stuart, who chairs  the Arabana Aboriginal Corporation.

See the incredible beauty of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre

"WE lose people in life through death but (the name) didn't die," Mr Stuart said.

He said Kati Thanda was the sacred name for the flat saltpan and meant "the name of the lake which was formed after the skin of a kangaroo was spread over the ground".

Although it did not physically resemble a kangaroo, the story was part of Aboriginal cultural mapping, he said.

"Actually if you look at it, it looks like a giant hawk sitting on a branch eating a marsupial but the story of the kangaroo comes from the north and the east, different tribes use it," he said.

Senior elder Syd Strangways, 80, who will perform the ceremony on the dry Lake Eyre pan today, said Arabana people had never adopted the European name.

"The Arabana were happy with the European name, but we've always called it Kati Thanda," he said.

Named after the explorer Edward John Eyre, Lake Eyre became an international landmark in the 1960s when British speed racer Donald Campbell used it to break the world land speed record, reaching 648kmh in his Bluebird racer.

The granting of native title allows unconditional access for hunting, camping, fishing and traditional ceremonies.

A Federal Court determination of native title a year ago included all of Lake Eyre and areas between Oodnadatta, Coober Pedy and Marree.

Adelaide lawyer Stephen Kenny, who steered the Arabana through the native title claims, said he believed the new name would evolve, just as the name Uluru is widely used for Ayers Rock.

"It starts as a dual naming and gradually it may stay as a dual name but Uluru now is seen by most people as Uluru rather than Ayers Rock," Mr Kenny said.

Marree Hotel publican Phil Turner said it could take a generation for the name to stick.

He was changing all the signage in his hotel to include the new name.

Marree locals Lyn Litchfield and June Andrew, both nurses at Royal Flying Doctors Australia, said they would embrace the change.

"I think it's good Aboriginal people are very interested in their culture," Ms Litchfield said. "Our grandchildren will end up using it (Kati Thanda), it just takes a little while for everyone to adjust."

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ian Hunter is at Lake Eyre for the signing today of a 99-year lease over Finniss Springs Station, a former mission where some of the Arabana elders grew up.

"This marks the beginning of an enduring, generational change to the way we manage this special place," Mr Hunter said.

"I am very proud to be able to join with the elders to sign this document today."

One of those rejecting the new name is Bob Backway, commodore of the Lake Eyre Yacht Club which was formed in 2000 to support sailing on Lake Eyre.

"We've always called it Lake Eyre and the Lake Eyre Yacht Club will always be called that," Mr Backway said.

"We don't mind other cultures having names for things but we won't be using Kati Thanda, and we're not obliged to by any law or regulation."