The long dispute over the native title with the Kalkadoon people seems to be finally drawing to a conclusion. The claim which was made twenty years ago deals with about 40,000 square km of area spread over Boulia, Mount Isa, McKinlay, Cloncurry and Carpentaria shires.
The Federal Court has finally granted the native title claim to the traditional owners. Justice John Alfred Dowsett told the court as he gave the decision that the Kalkadoon had continued to observe traditional laws and customs in their relationship to the claim area.
At the Mount Isa Civic Center it was time for celebrations as more than 300 people came to hear the announcement. The Kalkadoon people now hold exclusive rights to 4,000 square km of land and non exclusive rights to the rest of the area.
Kevin Smith is from the Queensland South Native Title Services and he tried to explain why the claim took so long to be recognized. He said that they were dealing with issues that go back something like 150 years. That they had to actually prove who the people were at the time of colonization so they were dealing with history, presently interested parties and a number of complex interests.
Valerie Craigie is a community leader of the Kalkadoon people who said that for them it was about the strong opportunity to protect their country, and hand it down to the younger generations so that they can manage the Kalkadoon country.