NATIVE TITLE
Year one, challenges ahead Land use planning and dealing with new state government and council members are just some of the challenges the Quandamooka people face after achieving Native Title one year ago, writes Maria Tan.
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ne year on from the historic Native Title determination, Indigenous Elder and chair of the Combined Quandamooka Aboriginal Organisations Forum, Aunty Joan Hendriks, is optimistic about the progress to be made for the Quandamooka people. “It’s the forum that I am heavily involved with and of course being just after the elections, we’re still trying to get meetings and pull things together,” Aunty Joan said. “We should know more very soon.” Mayor Karen Williams hopes to visit the next Quandamooka forum and told SIN
represents North Stradbroke Island, says he is pleased with the agreements that have already been made between the Quandamooka people and the council. “I think the majority of council are pretty comfortable with what we signed up to,” Cr Ogilvie said. He also told SIN that council had no interest in changing the Indigenous Land Use Agreements already in place. “The thing with Native Title is that it’s all bundled up now and it’s essentially no different to a contract,” Cr Ogilvie added. “What’s been decided is essentially a contract between us and the traditional owners’ body corporate.
Mr Smith was part of the legal team that represented the Quandamooka people in their case for Native Title rights, which were recognised at a determination hearing in Dunwich on July 4 last year. “It’s been a long 16-year battle for the Quandamooka people to get their Native Title, but this is really the beginning of a new phase of their existence,” Mr Smith told SIN. “We all live in a modern world and now the Quandamooka have to deal with that modern world while discharging their very important responsibility to be cultural custodians of the land that is so precious to them. “So it’s getting that balance. Obviously
“From my point of view, the fact that we’ve got a change in council isn’t going to effect a lot of the good things that are going to happen on the Island anyway in the next four years. “What isn’t in place are town plans for the three townships and that could dramatically change things in a fairly ugly way if we get it wrong.” For chief executive officer of Queensland South Native Title Services, Kevin Smith, Native Title determination was not an end in itself.
there’s going to be the challenge of balancing cultural protection and ensuring that the culture remains strong and thriving, but also dealing with the challenges of living in a modern world. “Carving out economic opportunities and ensuring that Quandamooka people are able to live on their traditional land are going be really important challenges for them, but they’re a group of very talented, smart people and they’re very motivated. I think they’ve got a very bright future in front of them.”
Mayor Karen Williams and Aunty Joan Hendriks at the Mayor’s swearing in ceremony.
that while a lot of great work and high benchmarks had already been achieved, she believed Native Title was going to be “a huge challenge” for the council. “Although I’ve been part of the journey with that, clearly there will be challenges in the future with planning and all those sorts of things at Redland City Council,” the Mayor said. “I’m keen to build on the already existing good relationship and work with all stakeholders to make sure that it runs as smoothly as possible.” Division 2 councillor Craig Ogilvie, who WINTER 2012
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