Wik Peoples V Queensland - The Wik Peoples

The Wik Peoples

The Wik peoples are a grouping of Aboriginal Australians who reside in Northern Eastern Australia. They live in an area on western Cape York Peninsula between 11° 40' and 14° 50' south latitude. The group comprises the peoples of Wik-Ompom, Wik-Mungkana, Wik-Paacha, Wik-Thinta, Wik-Ngathara, Wik-Epa, Wik-Me'anha, Wik-Nganthara, Wik-Nganychara, and Wik-Liyanh. Their traditional lands centre around the Archer River and the Edward River. The term Wik actually means “speech” or “language” in the Aboriginal languages of the region.

The Wik people have previously litigated native title type claims. In 1975 part of the Aurukun Aboriginal Reserve created in 1957 had been excised by the Queensland Government for a bauxite mining lease. The lease was granted to the Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation Pty Limited (Comalco) through a special Act of Parliament called the Aurukun Associates Act 1975 (Qld). There was an initial win in the Supreme Court of Queensland against the lease. However an appeal to the Privy Council in London led to the decision being overturned. (Corporation of the Director of Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement v Peikinna &Ors, (1978) 52 ALJR 286).

In the 1970s, the then Aboriginal Development Commission attempted to purchase part of a pastoral lease. This lease was over part of traditional lands used by the “Winchanam” clan. The Bjelke-Peterson government refused to allow the purchase of the lease. A challenge in the High Court ensued and the action was won by the corporation. However, the Queensland Government frustrated the decision by declaring the land a national park.