History

The following is a summary of our history and achievements over the past three decades.

1978

• A group of Jawoyn traditional owners launch their claim for land rights to Nitmiluk National Park.

1985

• The Jawoyn Association established.

1989

• September 10. Jawoyn traditional owners win their long-running land claim for Nitmiluk National Park. Following the Australian Government's formal declaration, the Jawoyn immediately lease the land back to the Northern Territory Government to be operated as a national park and shared by all Australians.
• Nitmiluk National Park established under a joint-management agreement between the Jawoyn people and the Northern Territory Government's Parks and Wildlife Service. The park is run by a board of management with Jawoyn holding the position of chair and majority membership alongside Northern Territory and local government nominees.

1991

• The Australian Government recognises the Jawoyn as traditional owners of southern areas of Kakadu National Park. Three Jawoyn representatives nominated to the Kakadu Board of Management. Brian Baruwei elected chairman of Kakadu Board of Management in 1992.
• The Jawoyn successfully argue to the Resource Assessment Commission and the Federal Government that areas of their traditional lands incorporating many of their most important cultural sites in and around Guratba (Coronation Hill) should be protected rather than mined.
• Jawoyn Association secretariat established in the Katherine township.

1993

• The "Mt Todd Agreement" signed with the Federal and Northern Territory Governments and mining company Zapopan NL. Under the agreement, the Jawoyn allow the extinguishment of their native title rights to the mine area and the Werenbun-Barnjarn area in exchange for title to lands, undertakings on jobs and training and community infrastructure. As the first post-Mabo mining agreement, the agreement allows the $1.5 billion gold mine to proceed and results in approximately 50 per cent increase in Nitmiluk National Park as a national resource.
• Nitmiluk Gorge boat operations are co-purchased with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commercial Development Corporation (CDC).
• Nitmiluk Tours established in a joint venture with Travel North.
• Mirrkworlk Joint Venture established with the Henry Walker Group and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commercial Development Corporation (CDC) to successfully tender for a mine excavation contract with Zapopan/Mt Todd. The Jawoyn Association has a 25 per cent equity in the joint venture.
• Manyallaluk Tours, in the community of Manyallaluk (Eva Valley), wins Brolga Award for heritage tourism.
• Manyallaluk Tours take out two Australian Tourism Industry Association awards in heritage and Aboriginal and Torres Strait

1994

• The Mt Todd mine opens with 27 per cent of mine work force made up by Aboriginal people. This equates to 4.25 of the 30 per cent of Aboriginal people employed in the Northern Territory's mining industry (1993, NTCM figures)
• The Jawoyn-owned Barnjarn mining company signs a Wandie joint venture with Dominion Gold mining company. If successful, the Jawoyn own ten per cent share of exploration and mine in region surrounding and to north of Mt Todd. The venture is heralded as an innovative deal with compensation payments to traditional owners not paid but accrued and credited towards exploration costs.
• The Jawoyn Association and New South Wale's Sutherland Shire establish a sister community relationship.
• Manyallaluk Tours, in the community of Manyallaluk (Eva Valley) receives the Brolga award for heritage tourism.
• Jawoyn buy out CDC share of Nimiluk Tours joint venture to take full 50 per cent equity in the company.
• Native title over Manyallaluk (Eva Valley) and Catfish Dreaming returned to the Jawoyn following Mt Todd agreement.
• Northern Territory freehold title over Werenbun-Barnjarn and Bambalmok lands in northern section of Nitmiluk returned to the Jawoyn.
• 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.
• Jawoyn-owned Wugularr Association signs joint venture agreement with Stockdale Exploration to explore for diamonds in the Beswick Land Trust area.
• Margalkmi Joint Venture agreement signed with the Gunyili and the Normandy Poseidon mining companies to undertake exploration in lands to east and north east of Katherine.
• A five-year plan "Rebuilding the Jawoyn Nation: Towards Economic Independence" adopted, outlining economic and social strategies aimed at independence from the Federal Government by 2000. The plan includes proposals to spend up to $2 million to establish tourist infrastructure at Nitmiluk National Park. The plan also adopts a long-term training and employment plan, with 60+ people already in work and 140 in various forms of training since January 1993. A regional land management strategy and a reconciliation strategy with the local Katherine council are also outlined.
• The Jawoyn Association joins the Northern Territory Chambers of Mines. It is the first Aboriginal organisation in Australia to join a peak mining industry body.

1995

• Manyallaluk Tours wins two Northern Territory Tourism Brolga Awards and enters Territory Tourism Hall of Fame.
• The National Australia Day Council names the Jawoyn Association as the Inaugural Community of the Year, recognising a decade of achievement by the traditional owners of the Katherine region in the Northern Territory.
• The Jawoyn Association wins Telstra Indigenous Business of the Year for Nitmiluk Tours and receives Best Business partnership with Mirrkworlk Joint Venture.

1996

• Aboriginal employment at Mt Todd reaches 32 per cent, making up 2 per cent of Aboriginal employment in Northern Territory mining industry.
• Manyallaluk Tours wins two Northern Territory Tourism Brolga Awards.
• Manyallaluk Tours enters the Australian Tourism Awards' Hall of Fame.
• Gimbat in Kakadu National Park returned to Jawoyn traditional owners.
• The Jawoyn Association develops a Best Practice project, including five year development plan.
• A $160 million eight-year deal signed for stage 2 of the Mt Todd mine. Mirrkworlk Joint Venture awarded contractor to excavate ore body.
• Announcement of Nitmiluk Centre, $3 million development at Nitmiluk.
• Barnjarn Joint Venture signed with Pegasus Gold for exploration.
• Launch of Jawoyn Five Year Plan "Nyarrang nyan-burrk bunbun yunggaihmih - We're moving ahead".

1997

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

1998

• Purchase of Banatjarl (King Valley).
• Nyirranggulung Agreements Council of Ceremonial Elders and Working Party is established and a Regional Policing, Law and Order and Justice Plan commences.

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

• Development of governance structures and systems for the establishment of the Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Authority.
• Nyirranggulung Agricultural Development Plan initiated, with fieldwork undertaken throughout the year.
• Jawoyn Rangers Program commences to undertake land management work.
• 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 the Federal and Northern Territory Governments.

2003

• Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Authority gazetted as a local governing body.
• Sunrise Health Service two-year trial launched.
• Infrastructure upgrade commences for the proposed Sara Flora Women's Centre at Banatjarl

2004

• Planning and negotiations commence for a 100 per cent buy-out of Nitmiluk Tours Joint Venture.
• Work continues for 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 areas of the Jawoyn and Beswick Land Trusts.
• Application submitted to the Northern Land Coucil 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 receives a $2 million funding offer from the Federal Government for further economic development initiatives.
• Jawoyn Executive Director Robert Lee appointed by the Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister 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.

2005

• The Jawoyn Association purchased 50% of Nitmiluk Tours Pty Ltd resulting in 100% ownership of the Katherine Gorge tour company and infrastructure.
• Completed Stage 1 of the infrastructure upgrade to the Sara Flora Family Resource Centre at Banatjarl.

2006

• 20 year Commercial Development Plan completed for Nitmiluk National Park and associated Jawoyn Lands.
• $17M (17 year) West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement Project partnership signed with ConocoPhillips.
• Vista Gold Australia and Jawoyn Association sign mining agreement.

2008

• The Jawoyn Association takes over the management and coordination of the Barunga Festival.

2009

• 20 year anniversary celebrations held on the banks of Nitmiluk Gorge for the handback of Nitmiluk National Park to traditional owners. Celebrations include speeches from Federal Ministers, Jawoyn members and performances by local Aboriginal dancers and the Black Arm Band.

2010

• Preston Lee appointed as the Jawoyn Association's chief executive officer.
• The first archaeological dig on Jawoyn country conducted in May. Two small pits are dug at a rock art shelter called Gabarnmung. The rock art shelter is located in south-west Arnhem Land.
• Jawoyn Aviation joint venture launched.
• Memorandum of Understanding signed with Australia's Monash University for archaeological research on Jawoyn lands.
• Findings of the May archaeological dig uncover the world's oldest recorded fragment of a ground-edge stone axe. The fragment is dated at 35,500 years old. Carbon dates also reveal Aboriginal people were inhabiting the shelter more than 45,000 years ago.
• The Jawoyn Association joins four other Aboriginal tribal groups to develop a proposal to launch the Katherine Region Land Council.