Karijini National Park in Western Australia is one of the oldest landscapes on the planet and contains large iron ores, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The land is located in Banjima County, which covers an area extending between Newman and Tom Price.
After a 15-year court battle, the indigenous people won the rights to the land containing the iron ore, an area they describe as the "engine room" of the iron ore operation, according to the Guardian.
The minerals extracted from the iron ore have helped the Australian economy stay above water during the recession.
The first claim to the ore, however, was made by the Banjima people of the central Pilbara in 1998, but they were unable to reach an agreement with the Western Australian government for the 10,200 kilometers of land. Negotiations occurred between the indigenous people and the Western Australia government between 1998 and 2011, though no progress was made during that time.
The federal government has now recognized cultural rights that include BHP's Pilbara iron ore operations, as well as the project area for Rio Tinto, Hancock Prospecting and Fortescue Metals Group.
This means that the culture, heritage and the connection to their ancestors has been formally recognized by Australian law, according to Alec Tucker, a Banjima elder.
"This is a joyful day for us," Tucker said. "We've been looking forward to this for a long time.
"We've been waiting for so long," he continued. "We know its Banjima country, it's my grandfather's country, my father's country, I think the old people would be happy about today."
The gorges of Karijini were created when a drop in sea level that occurred millions of years ago, caused rivers to cut down through compressed and uplifted rock. Erosion and weather have further defined the area, which is now a great destination for hikers.
Video of Karijini National Park.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
