The Central Land Council has launched new plain English information resources to help traditional owners to make the most of their native title rights and the opportunities that can come with them.
Immediately after last Saturday’s successful 50th CLC anniversary celebration, the elected members of the council travelled to Ross River, an hour east of Alice Springs, to meet for the last time during the current council’s term.
At Ross River they launched How to claim native title and Native title and mining, two easy-to-understand booklets for native title holders.
The new resources complement a series of native title booklets and the multi-lingual PBCmob app which native title holders in the CLC region launched last year.
The booklets will be recorded in local Aboriginal languages and, once uploaded to the app, help tackle literacy and language barriers to understanding the Native Title Act (1993).
The booklets help native title holders and other Aboriginal people to understand native title mining and claim processes under this law.
“Knowledge is power, and these new booklets aim to return power where it belongs – with the native title holders,” CLC chief executive Lesley Turner said.
During its 50th anniversary year the CLC also celebrates 30 years as a native title representative body.
The Minister for Indigenous Australians recently re-recognised the CLC as an NTRB until June 2030.
Around one-third of land in the CLC region has, or will soon have, native title rights and interests recognised.
“This enables Aboriginal people to have a seat at the table to negotiate agreements when something is happening on their traditional country,” Mr Turner said.
He also acknowledged the members for their service during the current three-year term of the council.
“Thank you for speaking out for the communities and for placing your confidence in me.”
When the council’s term ends, next April, fresh elections will take place in communities across the southern half of the Territory.
In the meantime the CLC’s 11-member executive committee will continue to meet every two months.
Mr Turner said a multi-lingual media campaign will inform CLC constituents in the new year how they can vote in the council election or stand for election themselves.
“Our chair and other members have been encouraging young people and women to join them on the next council.”
Ahead of the elections, the members reviewed how council member positions are allocated (also known as the “method of choice”), how members are nominated and the council’s code of conduct.
Contact: Sophia Willcocks | 0488 984 885 | media@clc.org.au