Anniversary of the 2007 Ngurrara Native Title Determination

9 November 2007

On 9 November 2007, the Federal Court made the Ngurrara Part A determination. The anniversary recognises a significant stage in the legal recognition of Ngurrara connection to Country.

Recognition in the Great Sandy Desert

National Native Title Tribunal records identify the determination as WCD2007/005. Later Ngurrara determinations concerned other areas, including outcomes in 2012. This entry marks the initial 2007 stage rather than treating every later outcome as part of one day.

Country expressed through art and knowledge

The Ngurrara canvas is an important part of this history. The Kimberley Land Council explains that the large collaborative work created in 1997 provided a visual and cultural record of connection to Country during the claim process.

The painting should not be treated as merely an illustration attached to a legal story. It expressed knowledge and relationships in a form chosen by the community. The date provides an opportunity to learn about the people and practices behind evidence, rather than assuming that written documents are the only meaningful records.

Recognition by a court did not begin Ngurrara history or create connection to Country. The anniversary honours a legal achievement and the sustained work surrounding it, including the people who maintained knowledge and supported the claim.

Reflecting and learning

Read an authorised account of the canvas alongside the determination history. What can a community-chosen form of evidence communicate that a boundary map alone may leave out?

Start with the sources below and distinguish the original event from later interpretations and commemorations. When using this date in a classroom or workplace, allow time for questions and further reading. First Nations peoples have diverse histories and perspectives; this brief introduction does not speak for every community.

Sources and further reading

• Ngurrara Part A determination reference — National Native Title Tribunal; later boundary schedule
• Ngurrara Canvas II travels from the Kimberley to Sydney — Kimberley Land Council

Our related products and resources

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