July 28th 2011 was the culmination of many years of struggle by the Kuuku Ya’a people to reclaim their traditional lands.
They met with government officials for the “signing of the indigenous management land use agreement for Kutini-Payarnu(Iron Range), Piper Islands, Wuthara Island, Mitirinchi Island and Ma’alpiko Island national parks (CYPAL)”, and the “delivery of deeds of grant to the Northern Kuuku Ya’u Kanthanampu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC Land Trust”.
There were speeches from many people including David Thompson, the priest, linguist and anthropologist who gave thanks to the creator and acknowledged “the Traditional Owners, the Kuuku Ya’u People, including both Kungkay and Kanthanampu groups, Honorable Ministers Vicki Darling and Rachel Nolan, the Member for Cook, Jason O’Brien, mayor and councillors of Cook Shire Council and Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council, and other distinguished guests”.
He spoke movingly about the history and ended with: “The challenge today is to find a right balance between the past, the present and the future. Today’s handover is an opportunity for today’s generation to strengthen their ties with their land, their families and their ancestors, while at the same time looking to the future to make the best choices for life in the modern world.”
The elders were eloquent with their words and the depth of feeling was indicated when two of the younger traditional owners (Jasmine and Greta Accoom) impressed the audience with their moving and emotional words.
Environment Minister, Vicky Darling stated: “Iron Range National Park will expand by more than 7,700 hectares when the Bligh Government today transfers five national parks and adjacent areas on the Cape York Peninsula to the Traditional Aboriginal Owners.” She added that the Iron Range National Park will be “renamed the Kutini–Payamu (Iron Range) National Park – Kutini means cassowary and Payamu means rainbow serpent in the language of the Kuuku Ya’u people, the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of this park.”
She added “I would like to thank the Kuuku Ya’u people and their advisers, the Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation and the Cape York Land Council, for their time in working through the details of this complex set of agreements.”