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Wanjina Wunggurr Dambimangari

Claim status: Determined

Claim history:

The Wanjina Wunggurr Dambimangari claim is comprised of 27, 932 square kilometers of land and sea country in the north Kimberley. It is closely linked to the Wanjina Wunggurr Uunguu claim, which was determined on May 23, 2011 and the Wanjina Wungurr Wilinggin claim which was determined in August 2004.

These three claim areas are representative of a cultural bloc as they share similar mythology based on the Wanjina spirit. The Dambimangari and Uunguu claims were initially postponed until completion of the Wilinggin claim.

The claimant’s connection report was finalised and submitted to the State Government of Western Australia in 2005 for assessment. In 2006 the State Government of Western Australia, for the purposes of mediation, were willing to agree the Dambimangari people had connection to country dating back to 1829. The National Native Title Tribunal began mediation between the two parties in 2006.

The Wanjina Wunggurr Dambimangari claim was determined on May 26, 2011 at Cone Bay. This is a significant achievement and includes, for the first time in the Kimberley – Native title rights to sea country beyond the three nautical mile limit.

The Wanjina Wunggurr PBC now holds native title on trust for the three Wanjina claims – Wanjina Wunggurr Uunguu, Wanjina Wunggurr Dambimangari and Wanjina Wunggurr Wilinggin.

Claim status: Determined

Claim history:

The Wanjina Wunggurr Dambimangari claim is comprised of 27, 932 square kilometers of land and sea country in the north Kimberley. It is closely linked to the Wanjina Wunggurr Uunguu claim, which was determined on May 23, 2011 and the Wanjina Wungurr Wilinggin claim which was determined in August 2004.

These three claim areas are representative of a cultural bloc as they share similar mythology based on the Wanjina spirit. The Dambimangari and Uunguu claims were initially postponed until completion of the Wilinggin claim.

Confirming connection

The claimant’s connection report was finalised and submitted to the State Government of Western Australia in 2005 for assessment. In 2006 the State Government of Western Australia, for the purposes of mediation, were willing to agree the Dambimangari people had connection to country dating back to 1829. The National Native Title Tribunal began mediation between the two parties in 2006.

Cone Bay Determination

The Wanjina Wunggurr Dambimangari claim was determined on May 26, 2011 at Cone Bay. This is a significant achievement and includes, for the first time in the Kimberley – Native title rights to sea country beyond the three nautical mile limit.

The Wanjina Wunggurr PBC now holds native title on trust for the three Wanjina claims – Wanjina Wunggurr Uunguu, Wanjina Wunggurr Dambimangari and Wanjina Wunggurr Wilinggin.