[Green-Activist] Fw: [Redfern-W] Cape York land handed back to owners

[Anne Goddard]

From: "Kirky aka Mrs Lyn Welsh-Kirk" <kirkysin at bigpond.net.au
Reply-To: Redfern-Waterloo at yahoogroups.com
To: "Kirky HOTMAIL" <kirkys-world at hotmail.com>
Subject: [Redfern-W] Cape York land handed back to owners
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:47:59 +1000

Cape York land handed back to owners
By Jessica Marszalek

April 11, 2007 12:00

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21539071-5001028,00.html
AFTER seven years of negotiations involving hunderds of people, Queensland
Premier Peter Beattie today announced that 230,000ha of far north
Queensland would be handed back to its traditional owners.

Mr Beattie made the announcement at a ceremony at Wujal Wujal, north of
Cairns.

Under the agreement, 64,000ha of land between Mossman and Cooktown will be
made Aboriginal freehold land, which the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people will
protect under conservation agreements.

A portion of the land will be open to any use by the Yalanji people and
will be able to be built on, grazed or mined.

Traditional owner and Wujal Wujal Aboriginal council mayor Desmond Tayley
told the 300 people gathered for the ceremony the agreement ushered in a
"new dawn of pride and sense of achievement".

Under the terms of the agreement, national park area on Cape York will
nearly double to 162,000ha, which includes the Daintree, Cape Tribulation,
Black Mountain and Cedar Bay national parks.

Mr Beattie called the agreement, which was generated by a 1994 native title
claim, a "significant milestone in Queensland's history".

"The Yalanji have long been the protectors of one of the most precious and
beautiful regions of Queensland," he said.

"The restoration of the traditional owners' right to own and be the
custodians and managers of their traditional country will protect the
significant cultural and environmental aspects of the area."

A number of Aboriginal elders cried as they recalled community members who
had died over the period of the negotiations and divisions within families
over elements of the agreement.

The agreement will now go to the National Native Title Tribunal before
receiving final Federal Court approval in about three years.

Australian Conservation Foundation spokeswoman Karen Robinson said the
agreement not only benefited indigenous people but was a "real gain for the
conservation of significant environmental values within and adjacent to the
Wet Tropics World Heritage Area".

PEACE & GOD BLESS

Kirky a Koori in Parkes. Oz.
Wife, mum, nan, sista, aunt, cuz & friend 2 all.
http://kirkys-world.tripod.com
1 stick can B broken ~ a handfull 2gether can't B broken
~ In Solidarity iz Strength.
---------------------------------
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Anne Goddard
To: Redfern-Waterloo at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 2:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Redfern-W] Cape York land handed back to owners

it certainly is Paradise up there :-)

--------------
From: "Anne Goddard" <anne at globalclimatechangeaction.org>
Reply-To: Redfern-Waterloo at yahoogroups.com
To: <Redfern-Waterloo at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Redfern-W] Cape York land handed back to owners
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:07:14 +1000

Wonderful news
Thanks Kirky
:-)
Congratulations to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji People!
--------------------------
Ditto Anne, my congrats also to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people and Kuku
Yalanji nation.  And thanks too Kirky for this post. I've already posted my
comment to Kirkys. A proud day for all involved! The ones who've passed on
will be honoured and remembered for the part they played in this historic
occasion. It's been a long time coming. We all play a part, big or small, in
looking after country- the environment - this planet!!
In peace
Steph (a NQ Murri)
----------------------------------
From: stephanie miller
To: Redfern-Waterloo at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 1:06 PM
Subject: RE: [Redfern-W] Cape York land handed back to owners


hey this is good news. congratulations to the eastern yalanji people after a
long journey and wait! my great grand mother came from western yalanji near
laura/coen and my granmother from croydon (tagalaka). a proud day and sad
day for the ones who passed on, they will always be remembered and honoured
for the part they played in this historic occasion. it's about time this
govt recognized that aboriginal people the custodians have a lot to offer
regarding looking after country (environmental). our ancestors were the
first environmentalists, because they cared for country and knew they were
one with all nature and creator. we ALL have a duty to take care of our
planet. to understand what i'm talking about i would like to urge everyone
to read this book by marlo morgan " mutant message down under". please take
the time to read it, it is awesome. it will sadden you to know we have lost
so much and also lift your spirit at the same time with the messages from
the "real people" meant for all human kind.

in peace
stephanie (a nq murri)


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