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Mirrar People |
| Category: | People | |
| Sub Category: | Traditional Owner Group (Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act) | Native Title Claimants (registered) |
| Place: | Kakadu regions |
|
| State/Country: | Northern Territory, Australia |
|
| Kakadu region, north-east Northern Territory. |
| Legal Status: | Traditional Owner group recognised under the Ab | |
| URL: | http://www.mirarr.net | |
| Summary Information: | |
The Mirrar People are a clan from the Kakadu region in the north-east of the Northern Territory. The Mirrar are recognised traditional owners of this area under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth). The Mirrar have explained:
'We have been Traditional Owners of Mirrar country since time immemorial. European anthropologists have traced our connection to country to at least 40,000 B.C. The extent of Mirrar country is recognised by all other Aboriginal clans in the region. However there are no strict lines or borders between Mirrar country and the estates of neighbouring Aboriginal clans. Mirrar country encompasses the Ranger and Jabiluka Mineral Leases, the mining town of Jabiru and parts of Kakadu National Park. In exercising these rights and interests we are guided by their obligations and responsibilities to other bininj affected by Mirrar decisions about Mirrar country in accordance with customary law and tradition. We have strict obligations to prevent the destruction of country and desecration of sites in accordance with customary law and tradition. We have successfully claimed nearly all of our country under the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act 1976 and therefore hold beneficial freehold title to our country via the Kakadu and Jabiluka Land Trusts. Unfortunately the township of Jabiru was excised from the area owned by the Kakadu Land Trust in the late 1970s. As a result we have recently lodged a common law Native Title Claim over the township of Jabiru and surrounds.'
In April 2004 there were 25 members of the clan. Mirrar people speak Gundjehmi language and have set up the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation to assist them in managing development on their land. |
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