The Guugu Yimidhirr people celebrate recognition as the rightful owners of the land as part of the Cape York United #1 Claim hearing in Cooktown. Photo: Supplied.
After a fight spanning generations, Guugu Yimidhirr, Yiithuwarra and Wuthathi people have been declared the rightful custodians of their traditional lands as part of one of Australia’s largest Native Title processes to date.
The nearly 915,000-hectare claim, which covered areas in the north-east and south-east regions of Cape York, took place in Cooktown on 23 October. It marked a defining moment in a story that began more than two-and-a-half centuries ago.
“This recognition makes official what our families have always known – that we are the Traditional Owners of this Country,” Guugu Yimidhirr Elder Erica Deeral said.
Elder Maude Olbar said it was now time to take the message home.
“Native Title means getting our Country back and being recognised for who we are and where we belong. We can go back on Country and teach our young ones.”
Yiithuwarra Traditional Owner Des Rumble, who attended the Federal Court hearing as a claimant on behalf of his grandmother, said the determinations were about “more than just being recognised”.
“This is our land and we’ve always known that, and continue to hold that,” he said.
“At the end of the day, it was just great to see the pure emotion that was flowing and the happiness of the people to come here and to know the struggles of their forefathers were finally being recognised in Australian law.
“We’ve lost a lot of our old people who were here at the very beginning of these processes, whose passion had actually started those conversations.”
The determination was part of the Cape York United #1 Claim, filed 11 years ago on behalf of the Traditional Owners of Cape York, and covered almost 55 per cent of the region.
But the fight for land reclamation has spanned generations.
“I’ve been fighting for our Country since the 1970s,” Yiithuwarra Elder Hans Pearson said.
“After all these years, it feels good to know our hard work wasn’t in vain.
“This recognition shows our connection has never ended – it’s been there from the beginning.”
Cape York Land Council chair Clara Day paid tribute to the Elders who carried the struggle across generations.
“Many who started this journey aren’t here to see it finished, but their children and grandchildren walk in their footsteps today. They worked hard for this,” she said.
“This is what coexistence looks like – Native Title working alongside local communities, tourism and conservation, protecting culture while supporting shared prosperity.”
The Hope Vale Yimbala dancers mark the Cape York United #1 Claim hearing in Cooktown with a traditional celebration dance. Photo: Supplied.
