Members of the Northern Territory’s Gurungu/Kulumintini native title claimant group expect to celebrate the recognition of their rights and interests in Elliott today after a Federal Court hearing to determine native title.

Exclusive and non-exclusive native title rights expect to be recognised in a consent determination over most of the 143.86 hectare application area, and include the right to carry out ceremonies, hunt, fish, camp, live, protect sites and take natural water in the determination area.

The group represents people from the region’s Mudburra and Jingili language groups, with Elliott (about 750km south of Darwin) lying on important dreaming tracks for clans in these language groups.

Justice John Reeves is scheduled to preside at today’s hearing for the claim, which the Northern Land Council lodged on behalf of the native title claimants, in July 2001.

The Elliott determination is the result of negotiations between parties to the claim and will be the first consent determination over a NT town that has involved the Northern Land Council.

Previously the only consent determination over a NT town was the Patta Warumungu People’s application at Tennant Creek, which was resolved in 2007. The claimants in that case were represented by the Central Land Council.

National Native Title Tribunal NT state manager Tony Shelley said the outcome of the Elliott application had benefited from research completed some years ago by local groups involved in the Newcastle Waters application. This litigated determination was resolved in 2007 in the claimants’ favour.

“The Elliott determination affects areas within the town so it is important the result has been by consent. However, the determination does not affect the titles or rights of existing private land holders” Mr Shelley said.

“Now people in the Gurungu/Kulumintini group can move forward with more certainty about what they can and can’t do in the future in the town.”