Wednesday 1 April 2026
Lockhart River
This notice is to advise that Cape York Land Council (CYLC) will hold a meeting on Wednesday, 1 April 2026 in Lockhart River for all members of the Kuuku Ya’u, Uutaalnganu and Umpila Native Title Groups. The main purpose the meeting is to make decisions about a proposed native title determination application (a native title claim) on behalf of the Kuuku Ya’u, Uutaalnganu and Umpila Native Title Groups, jointly as the “Kuuku Ya’u, Uutaalnganu and Umpila Sea Claim Group”, over the areas of sea country and islands as depicted on the map below. CYLC will facilitate the meeting.
Date: Wednesday, 1 April 2026
Venue: Lockhart River Social Club, Piiramo Street, Lockhart River
Time: 11.30am – 1.30pm (refreshments provided)
Purpose of the meeting:
A CYLC lawyer will explain the process for authorising the proposed native title claim over the proposed claim area to the members of the Kuuku Ya’u, Uutaalnganu and Umpila Native Title Groups at the meeting. This will also include an explanation of, and the opportunity to meeting participants to discuss, the following matters: (1) the external boundaries of the proposed claim area, (2) which members of the Kuuku Ya’u, Uutaalnganu and Umpila Native Title Groups should be nominated as members of the Applicant for the proposed native title claim, and so be authorised to make, and to deal with matters arising in relation to the proposed application, (3) if authorised, the conditions that should be placed on the authority of the members of the Applicant, including conditions to ensure that decisions affecting country are made by the traditional owners that speak for that country, and (4) the name that should be given to the native title claim group for the claim (described in this notice as the “Kuuku Ya’u, Uutaalnganu and Umpila Sea Claim Group” but a different name could be used). Following explanation of, and discussion about, the matters outlined above, the meeting participants will be asked to consider and make decisions about whether:
- to agree to and adopt a decision-making process;
- to authorise the making of the proposed application over the areas of sea country and islands as depicted on the map below;
- conditions should be imposed on the authority of the members of the Applicant, including conditions to ensure that decisions affecting country are made by the people who speak for that country; and
- the claim group for the application should be called the “Kuuku Ya’u, Uutaalnganu and Umpila Sea Claim Group” or some other name.
Who is invited to attend the meetings?
The meeting is open to all members of the Kuuku Ya’u, Uutaalnganu and Umpila Native Title Groups as defined in the respective determinations of native title made by the Federal Court in Ross on behalf of the Cape York United #1 Claim Group v State of Queensland (No 2) (Kuuku Ya’u determination) [2021] FCA 1464, Ross on behalf of the Cape York United #1 Claim Group v State of Queensland (No 3) (Uutaalnganu (Night Island) determination) [2021] FCA 1465, and Ross on behalf of the Cape York United #1 Claim Group v State of Queensland (No 17) (Umpila determination) [2023] FCA 734. Please contact CYLC if you would like to confirm whether you are eligible to attend.
Confirmation of attendance and attendance by video-conference
To confirm attendance, please contact Jasmin Schubert on free call number 1800 623 548 or by email at jschubert@cylc.org.au. Note that there is limited funding available for travel assistance. Any requests for travel assistance should be made by Wednesday, 25 March 2026. If you have queries about this meeting, please contact Parky Wirrick on 0409 548 569 or pwirrick@cylc.org.au. 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 free call number above.
