First Nations groups financially supported to protect cultural heritage values on Cape York

July 8, 2023

This NAIDOC Week, the Queensland Government has announced funding of $200,000 to be shared among four First Nations groups to help progress areas of Cape York towards heritage listing.

Cape York Peninsula features some of the most striking landscapes of unsurpassed beauty, including river systems, wetlands, rainforests and beaches with local State Member for Cook Cynthia Lui noting “the region supports rich flora and fauna, including species endemic to the region, and it is culturally important to our Traditional Owners, who have had a strong connection to Country spanning tens of thousands of years.”

The funding will help Traditional Owners conduct cultural heritage assessments to support the potential heritage nominations and the recognition and protection of the outstanding cultural and natural values of the Cape for current and future generations, and seize the opportunity to engage in National or World Heritage listing.

The four successful funding recipients and their projects are:

Western Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation – Palmerville Limestone Research
Assessing Balnggarrawarra Country for National Heritage Listing – Balnggarrawarra Country
Muunthiwarra Aboriginal Corporation – Cultural Heritage on Muunthi Country
Binthi Land Holding Group Aboriginal Corporation – Increasing the Footprint of Binthi's National Heritage Listing Nomination

Queensland Minister for Environment and Science, Leanne Linard notes, “This NAIDOC Week, we celebrate and acknowledge Aboriginal culture as one of the oldest living cultures in the world. It is important that we recognise its unique significance and support First Nations peoples to protect it as we continue along the Path to Treaty.”

Binthi Land Holding Group Aboriginal Corporation spokesperson, Ramona McIvor advised “The funding is significant for our corporation and other Traditional Owners to help us strengthen the protection and management of the cultural and natural values, and Indigenous heritage of the Cape York region.

“It will inspire other Traditional Owners to get involved in protecting and caring for their Country, not just in Queensland, but throughout Australia.

“I would like to see Cape York’s natural and cultural values and Indigenous Heritage receive stronger protection, which National or World Heritage listing can do.

“The Cape York region is important to First Nations people, and its preservation is what our ancestors wanted, and what Elders and current generations are working towards.

“We want to share our stories to give everyone an understanding of traditional management techniques and our history and connection to these areas.

"Attaining National Heritage or World Heritage listing will strengthen heritage protections and management practices of the 'Outstanding Values' on our country, and the recognition will put us on the map.

"Our Binthi motto is 'Binthi Warra Bamaa-ngay, Bubu Thana-ngan-ngu, Dabarrgu Ngarra-thinhu, Magu-badaaygu – Forever Protecting and Respecting the Sacredness of our Land’."

29th June 2023 - New Summit launched to tackle global challenges of culture and heritage in tourism

14th May 2023 - New fee system introduced in Western Australia to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage

24th April 2023 - Western Australian Government supports new Aboriginal cultural heritage laws with funding boost

11th April 2023 - Western Australian Government releases new Aboriginal cultural heritage law guidelines

6th April 2023 - Peter Cochrane appointed to Australian Heritage Council

6th February 2023 - Queensland National Trust appoints new Head of Heritage and Environmental Services

8th November 2022 - World’s first Global Culture and Heritage Tourism Summit

24th August 2022 - Lead nomination authors visit Flinders Ranges to progress World Heritage Bid

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