Historic day for Kakadu National Park as land handed back to Traditional Owners

A historic series of ceremonies has taken place to formally hand back nearly half of the Territory’s iconic Kakadu National Park to Aboriginal Traditional Owners.

UPDATED: Traditional Owners have rejoiced at the return of lands to Aboriginal people, ­including nearly half of Kakadu National Park.

On Thursday, the commonwealth government finalised six Aboriginal land grants across the Northern Territory, recognising the rights of Traditional Owners and their connection to country.

Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt with members of the Kakadu Aboriginal Land Trust, and their families at the handback ceremony at Cooinda. Picture: Supplied

In a ceremony held at Cooinda, Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt handed to Traditional Owners and their families the freehold title over four land claim areas in Kakadu National Park, totalling 9733sq km, comprising nearly 50 per cent of it.

Northern Land Council chairman Samuel Bush-Blanasi congratulated Traditional Owners on the return of their country.

“For too long there have been two classes of land in Kakadu National Park – Aboriginal land and other land ‘subject to Aboriginal land claim’,” he said.

“Today that has been fixed once and for all time.”

The return of land afforded new and crucial opportunities for Traditional Owners, Mr Bush-Blanasi said.

“The resolution of the underlying land title will allow for new investment and tourism opportunities,” he said.

“We are already seeing the development of more locally owned and operated Aboriginal tourism and other business enterprises in Kakadu.”

Ken Wyatt and members of the Mangarrayi Aboriginal Land Trust celebrate the handback of Urapunga township and the Old Elsey Homestead site at Mataranka. Picture: Supplied

At the Mataranka Showgrounds, the deed of title to the Urapunga Township was handed to the Urapunga Aboriginal Land Trust, while the Old Elsey Homestead site was handed to the Mangarrayi Aboriginal Land Trust.

“It has been a long time coming, but this ceremony today links up our ancestors with the current generations on this land,” Mr Bush-Blanasi said at the Mataranka ­ceremony.

“Although we are sad that the old people didn’t live to see this day, to see this land coming back to all the young ones here today, we are also really happy. Any day that any land is returned to its rightful Aboriginal owners is a very good day.”

Mr Wyatt said the handbacks resolved about 50 per cent of the outstanding claims in the NT.

“Aboriginal peoples’ connection to their country and cultural traditions is uninterrupted and enduring,” Mr Wyatt said.

“The granting of this land recognises this in law, giving Traditional Owners a seat a say in the management of their land.

Murumburr elder Violet Lawson at the Kakadu ceremony

NLC Chair Samuel Bush-Blana at the Mataranka cermony

“It affords Aboriginal people the right to assert their cultural authority and to build partnerships to manage their land for the ongoing benefit of their communities.

“Land security is economic security and this move empowers Aboriginal Territorians to use their land for their future,” Mr Wyatt said.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the handbacks brought almost all the land within Kakadu National Park under Aboriginal ownership.

“The land will be released back to the Director of National Parks with rent flowing in turn to the Traditional Owners of those lands,” Ms Ley said.

“These land grants etch a line in the sand after a long wait for recognition and I thank all those that have been involved to get this done.”

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and NT Attorney-General Selena Uibo also attended the handovers.

EARLIER: Nearly half of Kakadu National Park will return to Aboriginal people today, in a historic land handback.

The four lands claims, totalling 9733 sqkm in Kakadu, a land claim incorporating the the Old Elsey Homestead, and the Urapunga Township will return to Traditional Owners.

The hand back is part of the Morrison government’s finalisation of six Aboriginal land grants across the Territory.

Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt said the hand back resolved around 50 per cent of the outstanding claims in the NT.

“Aboriginal peoples’ connection to their country and cultural traditions is uninterrupted and enduring,” Mr Wyatt said.

The Old Elsey Homestead.

“The granting of this land recognises this in law, giving traditional owners a seat a say in the management of their land. It affords Aboriginal people the right to assert their cultural authority and to build partnerships to manage their land for the ongoing benefit of their communities.

“Land security is economic security, and this move empowers Aboriginal Territorians to use their land for their future.

“These handbacks go directly towards target 15 of the National Agreement of Closing the Gap that seeks to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples legal rights or interests in land and sea Country by 15 per cent.

“These Deeds are a testament to the hand work of the Traditional Owners, the Northern Land Council and good faith negotiation from Parks Australia and the Northern Territory Government to reach an agreement that all parties can celebrate.”