A significant native title claim covering 900,000 hectares in Far North Queensland has been settled by the Federal Court. This area is historically notable as the site where Captain James Cook's ship, the Endeavour, ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef in 1770. On Thursday, the court issued native title determinations for the Guugu Yimidhirr and Yiithuwarra traditional owner groups, granting them official ownership of extensive land, sea, and islands across the eastern Cape York Peninsula.

Hundreds of families, including children and elders, attended a ceremony in Cooktown to witness Chief Justice Debra Mortimer announce the consent determination. Native title acknowledges the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the lands and waters to which they have traditional connections.

Des Rumble, a Yiithuwarra traditional owner and native title claimant, expressed the emotional weight of the moment. "It's unbelievable to think that, through all the years, a lot of the old people that have been fighting for this moment, their determination of their … rights to country now has finally gone through the process," he said.

The atmosphere during the ceremony was mixed. While it was a day of joy, Rumble noted that many who had fought for this recognition were not present. "A lot of the old people who started the battles, a lot of them are gone now because this process has been going well over 10 years now," he said. He added that many attendees were reflecting on the contributions of their ancestors.

Richie Ah Mat, acting CEO of the Cape York Land Council and a Wuthathi traditional owner, remarked that the decision was long overdue. "The Guugu Yimidhirr people from Hope Vale — whose land was stolen from them by Captain James Cook — they weren't asked to give the land away, it was just taken from them," he stated. He emphasized that traditional owners had waited over a century for legal recognition, calling the decision a monumental step in reclaiming their land.

The historical context of this claim dates back to 1770 when Cook and his crew spent 48 days on Guugu Yimidhirr lands, marking the first extended contact between European explorers and Aboriginal peoples. This encounter led to years of violence and displacement in the region. Rumble shared that his grandparents were forcibly removed from their homelands near Princess Charlotte Bay and relocated to Palm Island, along with others sent to various communities.

"They lived there, worked there and were buried there," he said. "But we've always known this was our country; we just needed it recognized in law."

Rumble expressed hope that the court's decision would allow future generations to connect with their land without fear. "Today that unsureness gets wiped out," he said. "They can go to country anytime and continue that unbroken connection."

Rickii-Lee Woibo, a Guugu Yimidhirr traditional owner, shared her vision for the future. "The land, I'm hoping, will create economic development and empowerment," she said. "I'm hoping that today really looks to the future and what the land can actually bring for our future generations."

The determination of the Wuthathi traditional lands is set to occur in Cairns today. This week's three Federal Court determinations are part of a larger set of claims under the Cape York United Number One Claim, which was lodged in 2014. By the end of this week, a total of 30 native titles will have been determined. Ah Mat anticipates that the entire claim, encompassing all of Cape York, will be resolved by the end of 2026. Michelle Cioffi, principal legal officer for the Cape York Land Council, expects the Eastern Kuku Yalanji and Western Yalanji groups to receive their native title determinations by mid-next year. "The fight isn't over yet, and indeed it doesn't actually stop here," she said.