Achievements

"We're moving ahead" Nyarrang nyan-burrk bunbun yunggaihmih

The Jawoyn exist as a community, as a people, and as a nation. As traditional owners of part of the Katherine region, they have sought in the last 15 years to develop economic independence and self-management: they have also sought to improve their relationships with communities of other Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the Katherine region.

This has not been an easy task for anyone involved. In the early 1980s Katherine had a national reputation as a "racist town"; the controversy generated over the Jawoyn Land Claim became a focus of community disharmony; and misunderstandings did nothing to enhance the town's image. Much has changed over that time, and there is little doubt that Katherine is a better place than it was a decade ago.

The establishment of the Jawoyn Association as a representative organisation for the Jawoyn community has had much to do with the changes, and the Association has been instrumental in changing attitudes within other communities in the Katherine region.

Local government, business, sporting groups and schools all have benefited from these changes. Much has yet to be done, but it is hoped that the atmosphere of mutual good will between the Jawoyn and other communities in the
region will grow in the years ahead.

Following is a summary of Jawoyn achievements over the last 19 years, as well as an extract from a research paper commissioned by the Jawoyn Association that describes the background of the Jawoyn people.

A summary of Jawoyn achievements

1985

  • Establishment of the Association; 1991 establishment of the Association's Secretariat in Katherine.

1989

  • Return of Nitmiluk National Park to Jawoyn traditional owners, followed by immediate lease back to the Conservation Commission Land Corporation to be operated by the Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory as a national park "to be shared by all Australians".
  • Nitmiluk National Park run by a board of management with Jawoyn majority membership and Jawoyn Chairperson, plus Northern Territory and local government nominees.

1991

  • Successfully argued, first to the Resource Assessment Commission and then the Federal Cabinet, that areas of their traditional lands incorporating many of their most important sites in and around Guratba (Coronation Hill) should be protected rather than mined.
  • Jawoyn people recognised by the then-Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service (now Parks Australia) as traditional owners of southern areas of Kakadu National Park, and three Jawoyn representatives nominated to Kakadu Board of Management. Brian Baruwei elected Chairman of Kakadu Board of Management, 1992.

1993

  • January-February. Negotiated and signed the "Mt Todd Agreement" with the Northern Territory and Commonwealth Governments and Zapopan NL. In exchange for title to lands, undertakings on jobs and training and community infrastructure, the Jawoyn people undertook to allow the extinguishment of their native title rights to the mine area and the Werenbun-Barnjarn area of land. This allowed the $1.5 billion gold mine to proceed and was first post-Mabo mining agreement. Agreement resulted in approximately 50% increase in Nitmiluk National Park as a national resource.
  • September. Co-purchased with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commercial Development Corporation (CDC) and with a commercial loan, the boat operations at Nitmiluk owned by Australian Frontier Holidays; reached agreement with Travel North to establish a 50:50 joint venture, Nitmiluk Tours. Jawoyn bought out CDC share of joint venture, with a further commercial loan to take full 50% equity in July 1994.
  • September. 25% equity through commercial loan with Henry & Walker Group and Aboriginal and CDC in Mirrkworlk Joint Venture. Successfully tendered for contract with Zapopan/Mt Todd to do mine excavation work.
  • Manyallaluk Tours, Eva Valley. Awarded Brolga Award for heritage tourism. September, took out Australian Tourism Industry Association national award in same category.

1994

  • February. Opening of Mt Todd mine. By this stage 27% of mine work force is Aboriginal [cf 4.25% Aboriginal employment of which only 30% in direct employment in NT mining industry, 1993, NTCM figures]
  • April. Wandie Joint Venture signed with Dominion Gold and Jawoyn-owned Barnjarn Mining Company. 10% share by Jawoyn in exploration and mine if successful in region surrounding and to north of Mt Todd. Innovative deal involved compensation payments to traditional owners not paid but accrued and credited towards exploration costs.
  • June. Sister community relationship established between Jawoyn Association and Sutherland Shire, NSW.
  • Manyallaluk Tours, Eva Valley. Awarded Brolga award for heritage tourism. September, took out two Australian Tourism Industry Association awards (national) in heritage and Aboriginal and Torres Strait
    Islander sections.
  • Title to Eva Valley and Catfish Dreaming returned as a consequence of Mt Todd agreement, plus Territory freehold title over Werenbun-Barnjarn and Bambalmok lands in northern section of Nitmiluk.
  • August. Jawoyn Association and CCNT launch Jawoyn Plant Identikit for schools, tourist industry etc. The book is co-written by Jessie Brown, working as a ranger at Nitmiluk, in conjunction with Jawoyn elders and an ethno biologist.
  • September. Joint venture agreement with Stockdale Exploration and Jawoyn-owned Wugularr Association, exploration for diamonds in Beswick Land Trust area.
  • September. Joint venture agreement with Normandy Poseidon and Gunyili Mining Company. Exploration in lands to east and north east of Katherine, known as Margalkmi Joint Venture.
  • September. Adopted 5-year plan Rebuilding the Jawoyn Nation: Towards Economic Independence; economic and social strategies aimed at independence from Government recurrent funding by year 2000. Includes proposals to spend up to $2 million on establishing tourist infrastructure at Nitmiluk National Park. This plan also adopted a long-term training and employment plan (60+ people already in work since January 1993; 140 in various forms of training); a regional land management strategy; reconciliation strategies with local Council.
  • October. Joined Northern Territory Chambers of Mines. First Aboriginal organisation in Australia to join a peak mining industry body.

1995

  • Further two Brolga Awards at Manyallaluk; Manyallaluk enters NT Tourism Hall of Fame.
  • January. Inaugural Community of the Year, Australia Day Council
  • Jawoyn Association wins Telstra Indigenous Business of the Year for Nitmiluk Tours, plus Best Business partnership with Mirrkworlk Joint Venture at same award ceremony.

1996

  • Aboriginal employment at Mt Todd reaches 32% (cf. 2% Aboriginal employment in NT mining industry).
  • Further two Brolga Awards for Manyallaluk
  • Hall of Fame, Australian Tourism Awards for Manyallaluk
  • Gimbat (in Stage 3 Kakadu) returned to traditional owners.
  • Development of Best Practice project for Jawoyn Association including 5 Year Development Plan.
  • Signing of $160 million 8 year deal for stage 2 of Mt Todd with MJV as contractor (25 per cent owned by Jawoyn) to excavate ore body
  • Announcement of Nitmiluk Centre, $3 million development at Nitmiluk.
  • Signing of Barnjarn Joint Venture (exploration) with Pegasus Gold
  • Launch of Jawoyn 5 Year Plan, Nyarrang nyan-burrk bunbun yunggaihmih "We're moving ahead".

1997

  • Nitmiluk Centre opens; subsequently wins major architectural prizes.
  • Launch of Jawoyn Mining Policy "A path to economic independence".
  • Jawoyn representative elected to NT Minerals Council; first Aboriginal organisation to be represented on peak mining organisation.

1998

  • Purchase of Banatjarl (King Valley).
  • Establishment of Nyirranggulung Agreements Council of Ceremonial Elders and Working Party; commencement of Regional Policing, Law and Order and Justice Plan.

1999

  • Resolution of Warlangluk (Venn) land and native title claim leads the Northern Territory's first Indigenous Land Use Agreement allowing horticultural developments and to establishment of an alcohol rehabilitation centre.
  • Purchase of Mary River Roadhouse at entrance to Kakadu National Park.
  • Mt Todd mine re-opens and re-named Yimuyn Manjerr, the Jawoyn name for a site near the mine.
  • Partnership established with Fred Hollows Foundation on Nutrition; Fred Hollows subsequently establishes north Australia/south east Asian regional office in Darwin.

2000

  • Initial facilitation on amalgamations of Barunga/Manyallaluk, Wugularr and Gulin Gulin/Weemol Community Government Councils towards establishing Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Authority.
  • Commenced facilitation and negotiations with the Commonwealth and NT Government towards the establishment of the Sunrise Health Board.
  • Jawoyn Sustainable Development Planning for Jawoyn Lands report completed. On ground implementation throughout the year.

2001

  • Continuance of facilitation for the Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Authority, with development of governance structures and systems.
  • Nyirranggulung Agricultural Development Plan initiated, with fieldwork undertaken throughout the year.
  • Commencement of the Jawoyn Rangers Program undertaking Land Management Works.
  • Commencement of Jawoyn Tourism Development with Remote Area Program (RAP) funding. Development includes mentoring of trainees, course development work and delivery and job placements.

2002

  • Agreement reached by six Jawoyn communities to amalgamate and work together to further develop the Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Authority concept, structures and systems.
  • Nyirranggulung Agricultural Development Plan Report completed with two major enterprises identified.
  • Jawoyn initiates moves to separate Waikan Employment and Training P/L and Burridj Group Training Company to stand alone companies.
  • Sunrise Health Service nears final negotiations with Commonwealth and NT Government.

2003

  • Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Authority gazetted as a local governing body.
  • Sunrise Health Service trial goes live 10/03 for a two-year period.
  • Commencement of infrastructure upgrade for the proposed Sara Flora Women's Centre at Banatjarl.

2004

  • 1st stage infrastructure upgrade at Sara Flora Resource Centre completed.
  • Planning and negotiations commence for a 100% buy-out of Nitmiluk Tours Joint Venture.
  • Work continues to bring about the rehabilitation of the gold mine site at Mt Todd (Pegasus/General Gold Operations).
  • Negotiations continue between the Northern Territory Government and Mt. Todd Rehabilitation P/L, to open a new mine in the Barnjarn Gold province.
  • Section 19 Agreements sought from the Northern Land Council for pastoral (cattle/buffalo) operation on sections of the Jawoyn and Beswick Land Trusts.
  • Application submitted for a Section 19 Agreement for potential forestry operations on the Manyallaluk Land Trust.
  • Application to the Northern Land Council to amalgamate land areas (not in National Parks) within the Jawoyn, Manyallaluk and Beswick Land Trusts into one Jawoyn Land Trust.
  • Jawoyn and Wardaman Associations work closely with the Katherine Town Council and Regional Harmony Project Group, to commence the process to establish social behaviour protocols for Katherine.
  • Jawoyn notified of a $2 million funding offer from the Commonwealth Government, for further economic development initiatives.
  • Jawoyn Executive Director Robert Lee appointed, by the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs Amanda Vanstone, to the inaugural National Indigenous Advisory Committee (post ATSIC).
  • Jawoyn and Katherine Town Council broker a meeting of major stakeholders in an attempt to advance the interests of the township of Katherine. Discussion points include the consideration of a series of co-operative arrangements to include state and federal government participation.