Eastern Kuku Yalanji IPA Program

Eastern Kuku Yalanji Country consists of 3 Indigenous Protected Area management plans that set out the Values, Threats and Strategies to manage and protect Country and Culture.

The IPA Program has been helping Indigenous communities voluntarily dedicate their land or sea country as IPAs since 1997. IPAs combine traditional and contemporary knowledge into a framework to leverage partnerships with conservation and commercial organisations and provide employment, education, and training opportunities to Indigenous people.

The Eastern Kuku Yalanji IPA program discussions began in 2008, a year after the Native Title Determination. With guidance from Eastern Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owners . The IPA plans were developed to meet the objectives of Elders identifying the values, threats, and strategies which would support Yalanjiwarra and Jabalbina to rally stakeholders, provide support to funding opportunities to provide opportunities for Yalanji People to care for country, maintain and protect Ngujakura and get Bama back on country.

Today the IPA plans are used to steer Jabalbina in direction relating to funding applications, decision-making and influencing the operational arm. Ensuring that we work towards protecting and managing appropriately both Country and Culture for the generations to come.