Central West Wik People
Wik and Wik Way People
Thursday 9 May 2024, Aurukun
Cape York Land Council (CYLC) will hold a meeting on Thursday 9 May 2024 in Aurukun (the ‘Piccaninny Plains Authorisation Meeting’) for the Central West Wik People to consider whether to authorise a proposed agreement for a determination of native title for the area known as Piccaninny Plains, as shown bounded in red on the map below. In the Piccaninny Plains proposed determination area, the native title of the Northern Kaanju People and the separate and distinct native title of the Central West Wik People, wholly overlap geographically.
A determination of native title involves a decision of the Federal Court. Important things about a determination of native title include that the Federal Court determines (1) who holds native title, (2) what the native title rights are, (3) the area to which the native title rights apply after any determination is made, and (4) which corporation will represent the members of the determined native title group. The purpose of the Piccaninny Plains Authorisation Meeting is to decide whether to approve the proposed agreement for a determination of native title for the area bounded in red as shown on the map below. The agenda of the meeting will be to consider whether the persons present:
- agree and adopt a decision-making process;
- agree to the proposed agreement for a determination of native title;
- agree to nominate a corporation to represent the native title holders identified in the proposed agreement for a determination of native title over the proposed determination area; and
- authorise the Principal Legal Officer of CYLC to nominate the proposed corporation in writing to the Federal Court for it to be the prescribed body corporate under s.57(2)(a) & (b) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) for the proposed determination of native title.
If the Piccaninny Plains Authorisation Meeting on Thursday 9 May 2024 authorises the proposed determination of native title, the determination will then be sought in the Federal Court. The Court has listed a potential consent determination ‘on the papers’ (meaning, no Court hearing is proposed) for the area shown on the map below bounded in red, if there is to be a consent determination, on 10 or 11 July 2024.
If the Central West Wik People nominate Ngan Aak-Kunch Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (ICN 4097) (NAK AC) as the corporation to represent the determined native title group, CYLC will also hold a meeting on Thursday 9 May 2024 in Aurukun (Common Law Holders Meeting) immediately after the Piccaninny Plains Authorisation Meeting for the Wik and Way People to consider whether they, as common law holders of native title, made by the Federal Court respectively in:
- Wik and Wik Way People (QCD2009/002);
- Wik and Wik Way Peoples (QCD2000/006);
- Wik and Wik Way Native Title Determination No.2 (QCD2004/002);
- Wik and Wik Way Native Title Determination No.3 (QCD2004/003);
- Wik and Wik Way Native Title Determination No.4 (QCD2012/010); and
- Ross on behalf of the Cape York United #1 Claim Group v State of Queensland (No 22) (Wik and Wik Way independent parcels determination) [2023] FCA 1317
consent to the nomination of NAK AC as the corporation to represent the Central West Wik People for the area bounded in red as shown on the map below and identified in the proposed agreement for a determination of native title over the proposed determination area in the Cape York United # 1 Native Title Claim (QUD673/2014) (CYU#1 Claim) on 10 or 11 July 2024.
A copy of the proposed agreement for a determination of native title for the area shown bounded in red as shown on the map below will be available at the meetings on Thursday 9 May 2024. At the request of the people who constitute the Applicant in the CYU#1 Claim, CYLC staff and consultants will be in attendance to be available to explain things such as the meaning and effect of the proposed agreement at the meetings. Any person attending the meetings will be able to ask questions about the proposed agreement and state their views about it.
Who is invited to attend the meetings?
The Piccaninny Plains Authorisation Meeting is open to the following:
(a) Brian Ross; and
(b) those Aboriginal persons who are descended by birth, or adoption in accordance with the traditional laws acknowledged and the traditional customs observed by the Central West Wik People, from one or more of the following apical ancestors:
(i) Peempa Thum-Kalban Ku’ekka;
(ii) Daojan (Koondumbin);
(iii) Jimmy (father of Polly Perkins and Connie Tartempenmiya);
(iv) Father of Short Charlie and Long Charlie (Chaalongk);
(v) George Brown;
(vi) Chininga;
(vii) Ko’owata
(viii) Mosey;
(ix) Dhaabangchiy;
(x) Jimmy Lawrence;
(xi) Palpal (Quinkan) Old Blowdy;
(xii) Warnkoola Ancestor (father of Nellie ‘Eempen’ Warnkoola, Rupert Kepple Warnkoola and Charlie Warnkoola); or
(xiii) Kepple Ancestor (father of Gilbert Kepple and Maamus Kepple).
The Common Law Holders’ Meeting is open to all Wik and Wik Way People.
The meetings will be held as follows:
Piccaninny Plains Authorisation Meeting
Date: Thursday 9 May 2024
Venue: Community Centre, 506 Kang Kang Road, Aurukun QLD 4892
Time: 9.00am – 11.30am
Common Law Holders’ Meeting
Date: Thursday 9 May 2024
Venue: Community Centre, 506 Kang Kang Road, Aurukun QLD 4892
Time: 11.30am – 12.30pm
Video-conferencing
Video-conferencing facilities will be made available at the meeting. If you would like CYLC to arrange a video- conference from your location into the meeting, whether you live at the location of the meeting or elsewhere, please contact CYLC on the number below. It is important to provide every opportunity for persons entitled to attend the meeting.
Attendance
To register your interest in attending this meeting or to enquire about travel assistance, please contact Sana Dorante at CYLC on free call number 1800 623 548 or by email at lthompson@cylc.org.au no later than Wednesday 2 May 2024. Please note that there is limited funding for travel assistance. If you have queries about this meeting, please contact Parky Wirrick on 0409 548 569 or pwirrick@cylc.org.au
