Wakaya-Alyawarre historic land claim resolved

The Federal Government has delivered a deed of grant to the Wakaya-Alyawarre Aboriginal Land Trust, bringing to a close one of the longest standing land claims in the Northern Territory.

Following decades of advocacy, the Wakaya and Alyawarre peoples have received the title to more than 484,000 hectares of land located near Canteen Creek in the Barkly Region of the NT.

“This milestone demonstrates the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to finalising unresolved land claims in the Northern Territory and increasing First Nations rights and interests in land and sea Country,” Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said.

“I acknowledge the decades of work and advocacy by Traditional Owners and the Central Land Council to get us to this momentous day.”

This historic land transfer recognises in law the enduring spiritual and cultural connection the Wakaya and Alyawarre people have with their Country.

Traditional Owners first lodged their claim in 1980 and have fought for recognition under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Land Rights Act) ever since.

The Government said it had been determined to finalise this claim at long last and bring a just outcome, including for the sole surviving senior member of the original claim group.

It passed legislation last year to enable the Governor-General to sign the deed of grant.

As the second oldest land claim remaining in the Central Land Council’s region, Labor understood that there should be no further delay.

The handover of title is supported by Traditional Owners, the Central Land Council and the Northern Territory Government, and is consistent with the terms of an agreement between the Central Land Council and the Northern Territory Government.