The promise of comprehensive native title settlements: The Burrup, MG-Ord and Wimmera agreements

• Krysti Guest
• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

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Image: nettispaghetti / flickr

01 February 2010This analysis of three native title agreements is primarily based on observations made at a two-day workshop by representatives of the Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi, the Miriuwung and Gajerrong, the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagalk peoples and their negotiating teams; the WA government and their negotiating teams; and invited participants from the native title field. The aim of the workshop was to gain firsthand accounts of the role of comprehensive settlements in progressing Indigenous and government aspirations for native title and to identify possible benchmarks for such settlements.

By way of contextualising these observations, the paper also outlines the potential of comprehensive native title settlements advocated by many Indigenous leaders and academics since the Mabo decision.

Image: 'Fish engraving', Burrup Peninsula, nettispaghetti / flickr