Quandamooka people have marked the third anniversary of the historic native title consent determination with a range of traditional ceremonies at Dunwich on Friday morning.
The services, all part of Naidoc Week, in the Dunwich Hall included addresses from Human Rights Commissioner Mic Gooda, Northern Territory Senator and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Nigel Scullion, QYAC chief executive Cameron Costello and Redland City mayor Karen Williams.
Mr Scullion was given a tour of the island and met elders in an effort to map out ways federal agencies can work to deliver greater social, cultural and economic outcomes from the return of native title land.
Mayor Karen Williams said the council was proud of its relationship with the Quandamooka people, the first owners of the island.
She said council would work with the Quandamooka under the guidance of the Community Plan, which commits to respecting the Noonuccal, Nughie and Gorenpul clans as the traditional custodians of much of the Redlands.
The anniversary is one month after the island's indigenous community and Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation lodged a High Court challenge against the Newman state government's decision to allow sand mining to continue on Straddie after 2019.
Three Indigenous Land Use Agreements for North Stradbroke Island were approved in the Federal Court held in the Dunwich hall on July 4, 2011.
Two of the agreements, known as ILUAs, were with the Quandamooka People and were with Redland City Council and the State Government.
The third was an Indigenous Management Agreement with the State Government.
The then Premier Anna Bligh announced the court's decision on the historic day when she visited the island after the court determination.
Under the agreement with council, the Quandamooka indigenous people were handed rights to own and operate six camping grounds on the island.
The native title claims do not affect freehold land or the use of public reserves, roads or public access to the foreshore.
Friday's anniversary comes one month after the island's indigenous community and Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation lodged a challenge in the High Court against the Newman state government's decision to allow sand mining on the island to continue after 2019.
