More than 160,000 hectares of land and sea in far north Queensland was recently handed back to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people in a historic agreement with the QLD government and Traditional Owners.
Four national parks, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Daintree National park, Ngalba-bulal, Kalkajaka and the Hope Islands National Parks (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land) will be jointly managed by the Traditional Owners and the QLD government, with plans for eventual sole management by the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bama.
Lynette Johnson, a Jalunji woman and chairperson of the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, the native title body of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people and said members have worked for four years in negotiations with the Queensland government to come to this historic deal.
Ms Johnson’s granddaughter, Allira Alvoen says the goal is to provide more opportunities for younger generations.
