Normanby catchment story – Traditional Owners

Select from the tabs below

• Introduction
• Catchment Overview
• Physical features
• Natural values
• Traditional Owners
• Economic values
• Threats
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgments

Traditional Owners The Queensland Government recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) area and have a continuing connection to their land and sea country. The word ‘Bama’ (pronounced Bumma) is widely used throughout Far North Queensland by Aboriginal people to refer to an Aboriginal person in general. You will often see the term used when referring to a tribe or group.

Main image. Scar tree - provided by Robbie Burns ©Queensland Government.

Normanby Catchment

In the Normanby catchment there are many language groups including Guugu Yimidhirr, Kuku Yalanji, Koko Warra, Lama Lama, Mutumui and Olkola. Land within the Normanby catchment falls within the ‘Cape York United Number One Claim’ (One Claim) Native Title claim. This claim captures Native Title for all claimable land within Cape York that may not yet have had a determination. Within the catchment area there is a new class of protected area called ’national park Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land (CYPAL)’. Existing Cape York Peninsula national parks, Aboriginal land and Unallocated State Land in the Cape York Peninsula Region can potentially become national park (CYPAL). Some notable national parks (CYPAL) include Rinyirru (Lakefield), Muundhi (Jack River), Melsonby (Gaarraay).

Last updated: 13 October 2017