Tucked away in the most northwestern part of Queensland, 79,000 hectares of land, gorges and sandstone ranges have been returned to the traditional owners.
The Boodjamulla National Park was handed back to the Waanyi people in a ceremony at Parliament House in Brisbane on Friday.
A prescribed body corporate of Waanyi representatives will lease the national park land to the state in a first of its kind.
It will become Queensland’s first Aboriginal land national park after the title deeds are handed over and following its rededication as Boodjamulla National Park.
Chairman of the Waanyi prescribed body corporate Alec Doomadgee said the area was integral to culture and country.
“We stand on the shoulders of great Waanyi warrior men and women that have gone before us who have led our struggle to take back our land, Boodjamulla,” he said in a statement.
“Waanyi people, together, can benefit from our land in a positive way.
“We are looking forward to a brighter future and creating opportunities for our people our way, working respectfully and cooperatively with the Queensland government, after Waanyi peoples’ unanimous decision to approve these agreements for the hand back of Boodjamulla today.”
The government and Waanyi body corporate have entered into an Indigenous land use agreement that recognises the native title rights of the Waanyi people and future interests over the land.
This includes ongoing public access and a co-operative management agreement under the services of the Waanyi people and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
Environment Minister Leanne Linard said the handover was a significant step towards the Palaszczuk government’s Path to Treaty process.
“This historic land hand back is a testament of the courage, determination and commitment of the Waanyi people who have worked hard to see the rightful return of their country,” she said in a statement.
-AAP
