Kija
Claim history:
The Kija claim relates to a new proposed claim that covers the entire traditional country of the Kija people. The Kimberley Land Council began research and consultation work with the Kija people in 2005, to discuss the concept of having one large claim area instead of a number of smaller claims.
The Kija people decided to accept this proposal at a meeting held in late 2006. Anthropological field work, to assess the boundaries of the claim area began in 2008, allowing a preliminary report to be drafted earlier this year. If this claim is to go ahead, the Kimberley Land Council, is looking to submit a native title claim application, on behalf of the Kija people, within the next year.
The Kija claim would take in the smaller claims of Ngarrawanji, Purnululu and Marlarngowem and the Kimberley Land Council is seeking to progress the claim through a consent determination. This will involve development of a comprehensive connection report that would be assessed by the State Government of Western Australia and followed by mediation. This detailed process is set to take about three-to-four years.
Ngarrawanji:
The Ngarrawanji claim was filed in 1996 and covers more than 4000 square kilometres of land mostly contained within the Moola Bulla pastoral lease, to the north west of Halls Creek.
Purnululu:
The Purnululu claim is comprised primarily of the Purnululu National Park (also known as the Bungle Bungles), a conservation reserve and some pastoral lease land. An application for the native title claim, which covers 4500 square kilometres of land, was submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal in 1994. The claimants are the Kija people and it is proposed this claim is absorbed into the Greater Kija claim.
Marlarngowem:
The Marlarngowem claim covers about 7000 square kilometres of country and includes pastoral lease land to the south and east of Warmun (Turkey Creek). The claim was registered with the National Native Title Tribunal in 1999.
