The people of the Borroloola region in Australia are celebrating the announcement of an Indigenous Protected Area for some of their traditional land.
The Federal Government has made protected 130,000 hectares of land in the decision.
The Borroloola-based Lianthawirriyarra Sea Rangers will be responsible for managing the land.
Senior ranger Graham Friday says it’s an important decision for the area’s traditional owners.
“It will be good for the rangers to protect and look after our own country,” he says.
And with so much more land to manage, it could be an economic win for Borroloola too.
“We’re looking at putting on more ranger in the future. It will create more jobs for the young Indigenous rangers.”
Mr Friday is also a traditional owner for some of the Sir Edward Pellew Group of Islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
“I’m really proud of it because we’ve got good control over the land now. We’re the right mob of people to control out land.
“We can teach our next generation. We’re really proud of it.”
The director of Indigenous Protected Areas for the Federal Environment Department Bruce Rose says the IPA means the land will now become part of the national reserve system.
“It’s recognised by the NT and Australian Government as an area of privately owned land that’s managed for conservation,” he says.
He says while the announcement won’t give the traditional owners any more legal protection, it will help protect the country by active management.
NT Indigenous Policy Minister Malarndirri McCarthy is also a Yanyuwa woman, which is one of the four language groups covered by the IPA.
She gave an emotional speech about the significance of the announcement, after years of her people struggling for land rights.
“Today is the next important step in that journey for all the people of Borroloola where western law is now going to acknowledge and Indigenous Protected Area, where the Indigenous people of this Gulf country stay strong,” she says.
“This is about sharing with Aboriginal and non-Aboringal people learning to live together, and staying strong about who we are as a people.”
2012 ABC