Darwin/Daly Region

Malak Malak

The Malak Malak people are Traditional Owners of the Malak Malak Aboriginal Land Trust in the Daly River region. In 2017 they allocated income from their land use agreements to work on community projects and assist young people to spend time on country, grow cultural knowledge, and carry on their traditions. Malak Malak have completed projects including culture camps, developing a language app and designing and installing interpretive signs in the Daly River Region. Malak Malak Traditional Owners are now planning the development of a culture centre ‘keeping place’, to house their historical and cultural items. 

Diminin

Diminin are the Traditional Owners of Wadeye township area. Since expressing interest in community projects in 2017, they have carried out a cultural site visit project and cemetery upgrades. Diminin recently approved further upgrade works at two Wadeye cemeteries, and successfully applied for a matched funding contribution. The project aims to create employment, better support ceremonies and create a prouder community. 

Diminin Traditional Owners are also planning bush camps to increase access to country and investigating ways to support Kardu Diminin Corporation through grant agreements.

Rak Papangala

Rak Papangala Traditional Owners in the Palumpa area had a long-term vision of living back on their traditional land. They committed income from their gravel lease agreement towards this vision and carefully planned an outstation project – including a bush track, installation of a bore and tank, and a house. The group have also funded repair and general maintenance projects to support the outstation.

South-East Arnhem Land

Milwarapara

The Budal Yutpundji - Milwarapara people are Traditional Owners of Ngukurr and Urapunga. They are very town proud and have focussed community development work on improving infrastructure and facilities in Ngukurr for all to benefit. They have funded a church toilet, a welcome sign at a local outstation, and fencing and seating at the Ngukurr oval.  

Development of the Ngukurr airstrip waiting facility is currently under way to provide a warm welcome for people arriving in Ngukurr by air.

SEAL

The SEAL IPA Advisory Committee have focused their community development work on cultural awareness issues, and training opportunities for locals. The committee has most recently completed a project which delivers cultural awareness booklets and signage in Ngukurr and Numbulwar communities. In 2023 the SEAL IPA Advisory Committee are undertaking dedicated planning to focus on their future vision and projects.

Mambali Walangara

In April 2021 Mambali Walangara native title holders allocated a portion of their land use agreement income towards community projects. In 2022 the group identified key focus areas for their future and project work – knowledge, ceremony, visiting country, respect, strong culture, songlines and language. The group will next workshop some project ideas to realise these aspirations. 

Guyul Muynmin 

Guyal Muynmin decided to work with the Community Projects team in 2021 and have workshopped a strong vision for the future to guide their community projects. In 2022 the group progressed feasibility and project planning for culture camps to support young people to get back on country and preserve their language.

Guyul Ambulya & Mambali Ngubayin (Watsons) 

Guyal Ambulya and Mamabali Ngubayin (Watsons) native title holders decided in 2021 to work together with the Community Projects team to achieve their similar long-term aspirations. They have ambitions to live and work on country and have prioritised planning for culture camps and development of an outstation to support this goal. 

Mambali Ngubayin (Johns)

Mambali Ngubayin (Johns) have allocated some of their income from an exploration agreement to community projects and have a clear focus on strong culture and employment. The group has supported the purchase and storage of music equipment for the local Urapunga church and are now investigating the feasibility of a mechanics training project and culture camps on their country.

Victoria River District

Djarrany-Djarrany 

The Gajerrong – Djarrany-Djarrany group are native title holders of Legune Station, located in the north-western tip of the Northern Territory. Djarrany-Djarrany native title holders have engaged with the NLC’s Community Projects team since 2017, when they signed an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) for Project Sea Dragon. To support young people spending time on Country they have undertaken bush camps and upgraded their outstation. They have also created an education fund to increase school attendance. The group is currently planning a cultural tourism and arts business, as well as developing their corporation.

Wadanybang 

 Wadanybang native title holders receive benefits from the Indigenous land use agreement (ILUA) with Seafarms for Project Sea Dragon, located in the north-western tip of the Northern Territory. The group in 2022 started to connect with the Community Projects team to map out their aspirations and identify how NLC can support them.

Gubirrjim 

Gurrbijim native title holders receive benefits from the Indigenous land use agreement (ILUA) with Seafarms for Project Sea Dragon, located in the north-western tip of the Northern Territory. Community Projects team is supporting the group to plan an advocacy project and seek funding for outstation upgrades to improve the liveability of their outstation, so they can meet their aspirations to live out on country more permanently.  

Borroloola/Barkly

Budal Riley 

 The Budal Riley Native Title Holders reside in Borroloola, Numbulwar, Minyerri and Ngukurr. They began working with the NLC’s CP&D Program in November 2021. The group have a united vision to be on country - living, learning, sharing, working, together, caring for country. They have elected a representative working group and started doing some early planning for projects such as outstation upgrades to achieve their vision.

West Arnhem Land

Dhukurrdji 

Dhukurrdji Traditional Owners are the custodians of Maningrida and surrounds. Since starting work with Community Projects team in October 2020, the group have defined a strong vision for the future – achieving ‘balance’ and ‘on-country’ – and have created an image to illustrate this and guide their project planning. 

The group has approved their first project to support their goal - interpretive signage in Maningrida township. And they are investigating a cultural awareness project to continue their work in this area. 

East Arnhem Land

Galiwin’ku 

A representative working group of Galiwin’ku Traditional Owners have been allocating funds for community projects since 2017. The group have focused on projects to support young people, and law and justice programs. Projects have included funding a team of community legal education workers to support Yolngu in Galiwin’ku the week before each court session, funding additional positions in the youth sport and rec programs, and co-funding a school playground. 

The group have recently funded logistics support and Traditional owner-led raypirri camps on country. In their words, Traditional Owners are determined to run the camps with the right people (elders and youth) on the right country, and see this type of project as a stepping stone towards ‘independence’ and ‘self-determination’ for Yolngu in the region. 

Gapuwiyak

Marrkula members are the Traditional Owners of Gapuwiyak, and have set aside funds from township leases for community projects since 2017. The group has focused their project work on establishing and developing their local corporation. Their goal is to lay a strong governance foundation and develop a clear strategic plan to then undertake business and provide jobs and training for their young people and community. The group has also funded a ‘Painting Crew’ project which successfully employed 8 people and painted 35 houses, and they have started to explore the viability of a mechanics business. They are now also focusing on the feasibility of a cultural tourism venture in Gapuwiyak. 

Katherine

Mangarrayi 

The Mangarrayi people are the traditional custodians of lands and waters in the Roper River area. In early 2022, Mangarrayi Traditional Owners formed a representative advisory group to guide and plan their community projects. They are currently putting their attention towards the development of the local Mangarrayi Rangers and investigating infrastructure to support the ranger group. Mangarrayi traditional owners are also soon to undertake a Healthy Country Plan which will further assist them to identify priorities for their country, community and culture, and provide guidance for further community projects.