The Wire

In Western Australia, a decade of determination has borne fruit with the first native title determination for the Pilbara region, providing guaranteed access to land for traditional and cultural use – and the hope of longer term economic benefits. The process began in 1994, with the Federal Court involvement from 1996. Justice Nicholson finally handed the determination down to a group of around 500 traditional owners this week, at Roebourne Reserve near the cost. Executive Director of the Yamatji and Pilbara Native Title Service, Simon Hawkins, says the determination took a long time because it was a new process, and only the second such decision within the state. Mr Hawkins says the iron ore boom in the Pilbara region is likely to bring opportunities for the Ngarluma Yindjibarndi, with discussions over the 25 thousand square kilometre tract of land already underway.