Following 13 years of native title mediation between Eastern Kuku Yalanjiwarra and stakeholders, the Federal Court had made the consent determination of their traditional lands in Far North Queensland on 9 December 2007 in Diwan.

The native title determination included the settlement of 15 Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA’s) registered by the National Native Title Tribunal. Each ILUA reflect agreements between various traditional owners and interested parties on the use and management of land and waters to keeping them protected. The determination area covers approximately 126,900 hectares in total from south of Mossman, west of Great Dividing Range, north near Annan River. The Eastern Kuku Yalanji traditional lands extends further off the determined areas.

Subsequent to the determination Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bama (Aboriginal people) established the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation (Prescribed Body Corporate) and the Jabalbina Land Trust in 2007 to represent the interests of the native title holders.

As Trustees of Eastern Kuku Yalanjiwarra traditional estate traditional owners’ vision is to be caring custodians of bubu (country) and jalun (sea), so Bama benefit culturally, economically, academically, and socially, while enhancing Eastern Kuku Yalanjiwarra (EKY) lore and cultural values.

JYAC aspire to be self-funded by exploring and developing opportunities available to Bama.