Native title holders celebrate return of 'special country' in access win

On a grassy Aboriginal homeland, 160 kilometres north of Alice Springs, native title holders from eight groups in the Utopia region listened on as a Federal Court judge handed them the native title rights to their country.

Justice Stephen Burley, black robes incongruous in the desert landscape, travelled to the remote region to hand down a native title consent determination covering more than 4,000 square kilometres on Tuesday.

"It's a special privilege to see your country," Justice Burley told the gathered crowd, largely of the Anmatyerr language group.

The native title claim, encompassing Mount Skinner and Woodgreen stations, was lodged in 2023, and the determination will allow traditional owners to access Country, protect their sacred sites and conduct cultural activities.

With a mixture of mountain ranges, flat country and semi-permanent rock holes and springs, the claim area is mainly located in Anmatyerr territory.

Native title holders have been fighting for recognition on Mount Skinner Station to access sacred men's sites and places for sorry business, also known as cultural grieving, according to the Central Land Council (CLC).

CLC delegate and native title holder for the Utopia homelands, Graham Long, said the determination was crucial for his people, especially for his children, who he hopes to take out to his country.

"Because [it's] our special country, [it's] really important for us," the Alyawarr man said.

"We [are] really, really so proud to get our land back."

The determination ceremony took place within a 20-square kilometre portion of the larger area, where native title holders will have exclusive possession of the land — the strongest determination of its kind under the Native Title Act.

Native title holders will also have non-exclusive rights to the remaining area.

Central Land Council native title manager Francine McCarthy said the research for the claim began in 2016, which she said was a relatively short time for an application to sit with the Federal Court before a determination.

"The determination actually recognises Aboriginal peoples' traditional lore and custom in country, and they are able to exercise their traditional lore and custom, and therefore they are also able to access the pastoral leases to be able to practice," she said.

Justice Burley said the native title determination showed how the traditional owners of the country had reached agreement that would avoid "potentially years of legal wrangling" with other parties — the Northern Territory government and pastoralists for Mount Skinner and Woodgreen stations.

"The court recognises what you, as traditional owners, have known all along, which is that you have a continuous connection to this country, going back since the beginning of time,"

he said.

He said senior members of the claim group were born, grew up, worked and lived their lives in the determination area.

"A lifelong connection with the determination area has been deeply maintained, through hunting, gathering bush food and medicine, using water from soakages, hollow trees and rock holes, and following traditional walking tracks," Justice Burley said.

"The claimants were taught about and shown their country by their elders, the cultural geography of the determination was taught by songs and stories from the ancestors ... this continues today."

Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association chief executive Romy Carey said the organisation welcomed the native title consent determination for Mount Skinner and Woodgreen stations.

"[We] congratulate the native title holders, families and communities involved," Ms Carey said.

"We recognise the connection of native title holders to Country, and this agreed outcome provides certainty and supports respectful, practical relationships between native title holders and pastoralists."