Traditional owners rejoice as Wakaya Alyawarre land claim finally settled after 44 years

New legislation has ended four decades of legal limbo for some traditional owners, with their claim for more than 400,000ha of land in the Red Centre now finalised. Find out more.

Aerial view of the remote Aboriginal community Canteen Creek.

The sole surviving member of group who lodged a land claim in the Red Centre more than 40 years ago is looking forward to her daughters moving back to their homelands, now the claim has finally settled.

On Wednesday, the federal parliament amended the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Land Rights Act), ending a land claim that had been filed for Wakaya Alyawarre in 1980.

The 484,000ha stretch of land, 275km southeast of Tennant Creek, is now back in the hands of the Wakaya and Alyawarre traditional owners.

To finalise the claim, a deal was brokered between the Central Land Council and the Northern Territory Government, surrendering native title rights for the nearby township of Canteen Creek. 

The Canteen Creek Landholding Aboriginal Corporation will freehold land rights to some parts of the town under the deal.

The most senior surviving claimant to the land Eileen Bonney said she was happy to see this settled for her children and families.

From left: Eileen Bonney, Chennelle Holmes, and Veronica Bonney.

“The traditional owners all wanted to get this done for a long time. Too many of us have died waiting for this day,” she said.

“It’s happened at last. I’m still here. I was strong, now I got weaker. I’m still right.”

The remainder of the claim will stay Aboriginal freehold land under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.

The Central Land Council now has one outstanding claim, Frances Well, under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act.

Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said settling the claim was a “significant milestone”.

“This legislation recognises the enduring connection of the people of Wakaya and Alyawarre groups with the land associated with emu dreaming and many other dreamings,” she said.

A formal hand back ceremony will be conducted next year.