News & Publications
Timber Creek Rangers trained in sawfish monitoring
Dec 19, 2018
NLC’s Timber Creek rangers and CSIRO have established a sawfish monitoring program on the Victoria River to record population estimates.
Aboriginal Housing NT takes home Fitzgerald Human Rights Award
Dec 18, 2018
Aboriginal Housing NT (AHNT) has won the 2018 NT Human Rights Commission’s Fitzgerald Award for Diversity.
NLC welcomes amendment to NLC Land Rights Act
Nov 26, 2018
The Northern Land Council welcomes the amendment to the Land Rights Act passed through the Senate this evening.
NLC Annual Report 2017-18
Nov 21, 2018
The Northern Land Council Annual Report 2017-18 provides a comprehensive account of the Council’s performance from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.
Jabiru Native Title claim
Nov 8, 2018
On Friday 9 November 2018, the Federal Court of Australia will hold a special on-country hearing to recognise the native title rights and interests of the Mirarr People over areas of the Jabiru Township.
Media Alert: Larrimah Native Title Recognition Ceremony
Oct 22, 2018
The Federal Court of Australia will hold a special hearing at the Supreme Court of the NT in Darwin on Wednesday 24 October 2018 to recognise native title rights and interests over the town of Larrimah.
Native title holder consortium awarded first major contract at Legune
Sep 20, 2018
In a historic win for Aboriginal business development, a construction consortium involving local native title holders has been awarded the first contract of work for the billion-dollar aquaculture grow-out facility at Legune Station.
Upgrades to Marralum outstation: Building a strong future for native title holders
Aug 30, 2018
Native title holders are driving upgrades to Marralum outstation near the Western Australian border using funds generated from a major prawn farm project.
Re-connecting Women with Country
Aug 28, 2018
The Northern Land Council’s Caring for Country Branch has adopted a Women’s Employment Strategy in response to the requests from Traditional Owners, community members and women rangers to increase opportunities for women to work as rangers.
NLC Corporate Plan 2018/19 to 2021/22
Aug 27, 2018
The NLC Corporate Plan provides information about the significant activities which the NLC will undertake over the four years, 2018/19 to 2021/22
NLC condemns McArthur River Mine approval
Aug 10, 2018
The Northern Land Council has condemned the decision of the NT EPA to approve the overburden management project at the McArthur River Mine.
The Women’s Culture Walk 2018
Jul 6, 2018
Thirty women from Numbulwar took part in the Women’s Culture Walk from 25-29 June 2018, traversing 40km of coast in the South East Arnhem Land Indigenous Protected Area.
The Barunga Agreement
Jun 8, 2018
A Memorandum of Understanding to provide for the development of a framework for negotiating a Treaty with the First Nations of the Northern Territory of Australia.
Barunga Agreement: Joint Land Councils and Northern Territory Government Statement
Jun 8, 2018
The Northern Territory’s four Land Councils and the Northern Territory Government have today signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding (the “Barunga Agreement”), paving the way for consultations to begin with Aboriginal people about a Treaty.
Vernon Islands Handed Back
Jun 1, 2018
The Vernon Islands have been officially returned to the Mantiyupwi Tiwi people, 40 years after the land claim was lodged.
NLC Rangers among first NT Fisheries Inspectors
Jun 1, 2018
Two NLC rangers are among the first six Indigenous Rangers in the Northern Territory to become Fisheries Inspectors.
Community Planning and Development: Youth Activities in Galiwin’ku
Jun 1, 2018
It’s 6pm and young Yolngu are racing up and down the basketball courts in Galiwin’ku. Youth program coordinator Josie Wright organises a group of girls into teams for a game, while others watch from the sidelines.
Submission by the Northern and Central land councils to the Closing the Gap refresh initiative
Jun 1, 2018
This submission is made jointly by the Northern Land Council (NLC) and the Central Land Council (CLC) (Land Councils), both independent statutory authorities established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) (Land Rights Act).
ABC Darwin: Ranger funding announcement 2018
Apr 27, 2018
More than $250 million over three years has been announced for Indigenous Rangers. The funding will continue to deliver 2000 jobs to 118 Indigenous rangers groups, keeping country and culture strong for the benefit of all Australians and the world. Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion made the announcement on Friday 27 April 2018 alongside NLC's Malak Malak Rangers.
ALFA Pre Fire Season Meeting
Apr 12, 2018
Our Yugul Mangi and Numbulwar Numburindi Rangers attended the annual pre fire season meeting organised by ALFA NT from 10-11 April at Barrapunta.
Kenbi Land Use agreement to protect flatback turtle
Apr 11, 2018
Sea Darwin has entered into a licence agreement with Kenbi Aboriginal Land Trust to maintain access to Ngulbitjik (Bare Sand Island) for running exclusive turtle tours.
Land Councils and Northern Territory agree on an MoU for Treaty
Apr 5, 2018
A historic meeting between the Northern Territory Government and the Territory’s four land councils has agreed to establish a working group to develop a Memorandum of Understanding about how a treaty between the government and the NT’s Aboriginal people should progress.
Gunyungara signs Township Lease
Apr 4, 2018
The community of Gunyangara in north east Arnhem Land celebrated the signing of a 99-year township lease to the Ngarrariyal Aboriginal Corporation on 18 November 2017, 10 years after the Gumatj people, led by Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu, put forward a similar proposal to then Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough.
A Territory Treaty
Apr 4, 2018
The NLC’s Executive Council hosted a workshop in Darwin, 19-20 February, to discuss how a Treaty could be progressed between the Northern Territory Government and Aboriginal people. Staff of the Central Land Council also attended. The workshop preceded a meeting of the Executives of the four NT Land Councils in Darwin in early March.
Sacred sites protected under final Kenbi Open Area Declaration
Mar 22, 2018
The Northern Land Council has welcomed the official gazettal this week of the Kenbi Open Area Declaration over beaches and the intertidal zone of Aboriginal land in the Cox Peninsula vicinity.
Submission to the Northern Territory Social Policy Scrutiny Committee: Animal Protection Bill 2018
Mar 19, 2018
The Northern Land Council (NLC) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Social Policy Scrutiny Committee and is hopeful that the advice provided will be seriously considered in the formulation of the Committee’s report to the Legislative Assembly in respect of the Animal Protection Bill 2018.
The Wardaman: Looking after Country
Mar 14, 2018
Birds are closely connected to Wardaman culture. Many Wardaman dances have been adapted from bird movements and much Wardaman rock art depicts birds.
Remembering Land Rights News 1988
Mar 13, 2018
These days, the Northern and Central Land Councils each publishes its own editions of Land Rights News. Thirty years ago, the time of the Australia’s Bicentenary, Land Rights News was a joint publication, and its production was not without tribulation.
Pastoral Land Bill Changes Wanted
Mar 13, 2018
The Northern Land Council is pressing the Northern Territory Government to amend its Pastoral Land Legislation Amendment Bill, which, in its present form, would give pastoralists the right to secure sub-leases on their properties to allow for land to be used for a range of non-pastoral purposes, but would severely curtail the rights of native title holders.
Native Title Act changes challenged
Mar 4, 2018
Senator Patrick Dodson, Shadow Assistant Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, comments on the Australian Government Options Paper, Reforms to the Native Title Act 1993, launched at the end of November 2017.
Malak Malak ranger story
Feb 19, 2018
Meet Matthew, Amos, Aaron and Rob from the Malak Malak Ranger Group as they take you across their country. The Malak Malak Rangers manage 30,000 hectares of land along the iconic Daly River. Their land and sea management activities include managing intense invasive weed infestations, fire management, environmental monitoring and scared site protection. Their persistent work has seen the invasive weed Mimosa pigra eradicated on a 30km stretch of the Daly River.
Sabrina Wauchope, Croker Island Junior Ranger
Feb 19, 2018
Sabrina Wauchope, 16, is training to become a Garngi Ranger in her home of Croker Island. This video was put together by female rangers who took part in media training at the Womens' Engagement Camp at Barrapunta Outstation in late September.
Bulgul Ranger Group
Feb 19, 2018
Find out how Bulgul Rangers have returned their country to almost the way it was in the past. Quolls, dingos and migratory birds have now been identified, thought to have nearly disappeared. Ranger coordinator Ricky Cubillo tells NLC: "Our culture can be passed on to the younger generations and stories won't be lost thanks to the work of the Bulgul Ranger Group."
Numbulwar Numburindi Ranger Group
Feb 19, 2018
The Numburindi ranger group has one of the highest number of women engaged in the program. Numburindi Rangers have decided that regular women's culture camps should be held to engage young women from the community with cultural heritage, healthy living and land management activities.
Wudicupildiyerr Outstation Rangers
Feb 19, 2018
The Wudicupildiyerr Outstation Rangers look after 160,000 hectares of land and sea throughout the Daly River/Port Keats Land Trust. Since this video was made, Wudi Rangers have been successful in receiving NTG funding to provide infrastructure including power, ablution facilities and amenities at their ranger base, enabling them to continue the great work they have achieved over the years.
Roper Highway Upgrade
Feb 19, 2018
The Roper River Highway connects the Stuart Highway at Mataranka with the remote community of Ngukurr. Following consultation and negotiation with Traditional Owners by the Northern Land Council, 7.3 km of sealed road and two high level bridges ave been constructed at the Roper River Crossing and the Wilton river Crossing.
