At a Federal Court hearing on 16 April 2019 – at Gascoyne Junction, on neighbouring Yingaarda Country, WA – the Thiin-Mah Warriyangka Tharrkari Jiwarli (Thin-mar, Worry-anga, Thuc-ari, Ji-warli) people were formally recognised by the Federal Court as native title holders.
The judgement made by Justice Murphy recognised the native title rights and interests held by the Combined Thiin-Mah Warriyangka Tharrkari Jiwarli peoples’ in relation to the land covered by the Determination Area.
The determination area covers approximately 6,804 square kilometres of land lying within the Shires of Ashburton, Carnarvon and Upper Gascoyne. The determination area is home to places of special spiritual significance, in particular living waters inhabited by the mythical water serpent, thalu places, meeting and ritual places, and the burial places of the old people, whose spirits still inhabit Thiin-Mah Warriyangka Tharrkari Jiwarli Country today.
Traditional Owner, Herbert Eagles, said, “We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors, and I know that they would be proud that our connection to Country has been honoured today by the Federal Court.
“We can now look forward to the future and creating a legacy for our children and our children’s children,” Mr Eagles said.
