Anniversary of the Adnyamathanha Native Title Determinations

30 March

On 30 March 2009, the Federal Court made a series of determinations recognising Adnyamathanha native title in South Australia. The anniversary honours Adnyamathanha people’s connection to Country and the work that led to these outcomes.

Three determinations on one day

The National Native Title Register records three determinations relating to the Adnyamathanha No. 1 and No. 2 applications. They concerned the Angepena pastoral lease, a larger stage of the No. 1 claim and the Flinders Ranges National Park claim.

This calendar uses one entry for the shared date and explains the separate outcomes here. It does not imply that the whole Adnyamathanha claim was resolved in one order.

Understanding the areas and rights

The register explains that the Angepena and national park outcomes recognised non-exclusive rights, while the larger stage included areas of exclusive and non-exclusive rights.

The South Australian native title service provides an accessible account of the determinations and Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association. The documents should be read together: a broad description of the Flinders Ranges does not replace the legal schedules or establish identical rights over every parcel.

Recognition and continuing connection

A determination recognises rights under Australian law; it does not begin a community’s history or create its connection to Country. The anniversary is an opportunity to honour the people who carried the claim and maintained that connection.

Legal recognition also brings continuing work in governance, decision-making and caring for places. A successful court outcome is an important milestone, while the people and responsibilities involved remain central after the ceremony.

Learning from a complex outcome

For a school or workplace activity, compare the three determinations and identify why one date can refer to different areas and forms of recognition. Keep a clear distinction between an application area and the land where native title was found to exist.

Use public Adnyamathanha accounts and authorised resources with attribution. Avoid treating maps as permission to visit places or cultural information as unrestricted. The aim is to understand the achievement, its scope and continuing Adnyamathanha authority, rather than to reduce the history to a number of hectares.

Sources and further reading

Read the official record alongside publicly available material from the relevant community or native title body. Historical records may include names of people who have died.

Online sources

National Native Title Register: SCD2009/003. National Native Title Tribunal. Explains the three determinations and their differing scope.
https://api.nntt.gov.au/api/Attachments/searchRegApps/NativeTitleRegisters/NNTR%20Extracts/SCD2009_003/NNTRExtract_SCD2009_003.pdf

Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association. South Australian Native Title Services. Background on the native title outcomes and relevant body corporate.
https://www.nativetitlesa.org/pbcs/adnyamathanha-traditional-lands-association-aboriginal-corporation-rntbc/

Our related products and resources

We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this anniversary. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.