A native title determination recognising commercial rights for the first time in Central Australia has been settled, seven years after the claims process began.
In the remote community of Imanpa, south-west of Alice Springs, 15 First Nations family groups and pastoralists from the Karinga Lakes region gathered for the historic Federal Court ruling.
The determination covers more than 10,000 square kilometres of pastoral lease land, including Erldunda, Lyndavale and Curtin Springs stations.
Caroline Coombs said the Anangu people had been caring for the area for tens of thousands of years.
"It's important to all of us because we're connected to the country," said Caroline Coombs.
"We have our cultural ancestors' dreaming there, and it's important to look after country and lakes."
Justice Mordy Bromberg handed down the determination in favour of the applicants, granting the Anangu people the right to hunt and perform ceremonies on the land, as well as to be consulted over its use.
Goodwill between pastoralists and Anangu people
After several years of anthropological and legal research, a claim was lodged on behalf of the 15 family groups in 2020.
For Alan Wilson, the determination was an important acknowledgement of the strong relations with the surrounding pastoralists.
"I started working at Curtin Springs when I was just a boy," he said. "I worked with [Ashley Severin's] father; I worked all my life.
"They taught me everything … the cattle, breaking in horses, everything. His father taught me properly."
However, while the Anangu native title holders have welcomed the opportunity to negotiate commercial agreements on the lands, some are disappointed over the ruling's limitations.
Licences for potash mining are held over the lakes, with native title holders and pastoralists unable to overrule further exploration work on the land.
Bittersweet victory
Tanya Luckey said dealing with mining companies drilling and excavating the land had made life "a struggle".
"This determination doesn't really back us up properly," she said.
"We'd like to be recognised as the traditional owners of the land.
"Anything that happens to the land — work with us, together."
For generations, the pastoralists have been living and working with the Anangnu people on the vast stations.
At the determination, there were heartfelt displays of goodwill between the different families.
Formalising the relationship
Ross Stanes — whose family has leased Lyndavale Station for over 100 years — said the ruling "formalised what already exists".
"It helps clear up any ambiguity and will, hopefully, strengthen the relationship between us and the Anangu people," he said.
"My father grew up with a lot of the people who were named today as [Native Title holders], and we've had a long, long relationship with them.
"We, as pastoralists, have to respect Native Title rights, and I think those in the community and those traditional owners respect our rights to conduct pastoral activities."
Mr Stanes acknowledged that mining could be important for the economy, but said areas of cultural and ecological significance should be left alone.
