Innisfail Region

Mamu people are traditional owners with Native Title since 2013 for lands from Canal Creek to Coopers Point in the north, Little Maria Creek in the south, and west to Dirran Creek at Tarzalli. The Mamu cultural group has five clan groups – Warribarra, Dugulbarra, Mandubarra, Dyirribarra and Bagirbarra with distinct areas of country identified. Mamu people have ongoing custodial responsibilities and contribute to the Wet Tropics Aboriginal Cultural and Natural Resource Management Plan. Mamu Aboriginal Corporation serves to ‘protect, preserve and advance the traditions, laws, languages, special knowledge, culture and customs of the Mamu native title holders.

Mission Beach Region

Djiru people are the traditional owners with Native Title since 2011 for lands around Mission Beach including parts of the Tully Gorge National Park, Clump Mountain National Park, Djiru National Park, Hull River National and Walter Hill Ranges Conservation Park. Djiru people have ongoing custodial responsibilities and contribute to the Wet Tropics Aboriginal Cultural and Natural Resource Management Plan.

Tully Region

Gulngay people are the traditional owners with Native Title since 2019 for the Tully region including eastern sections of Tully Gorge National Park, Tully River in the west, across the Murray River in the south, and up to and including the Walter Hill Range in the north. Gulngay people have ongoing custodial responsibilities and contribute to the Wet Tropics Aboriginal Cultural and Natural Resource Management Plan.

Tully Gorge Region

Jirrbal people are the traditional owners with Native Title since 2008 for western sections of Tully Gorge National Park in the Cassowary Coast region, and further west to Ravenshoe and Herberton, east to Evelyn Central and south to Davidson Creek at the bottom of Tully Gorge. The Jirrbal people are represented by the Wabubadda Aboriginal Corporation (WAC) based in Atherton. The Jirrbal people have ongoing custodial responsibilities and contribute to the Wet Tropics Aboriginal Cultural and Natural Resource Management Plan.

Cardwell Region

Girramay people are the traditional owners with Native Title since 2009 for lands around Cardwell, including Bilyana and Murray Upper area. The Girramay people have ongoing custodial responsibilities and contribute to the Wet Tropics Aboriginal Cultural and Natural Resource Management Plan.

Hinchinbrook Island

Bandjin people are the traditional owners for Hinchinbrook Island and are represented by the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation. Girringun Aboriginal Corporation (GAC)

GAC is not a Registered Native Title Body Corporate but does represent some traditional owners from within the Cassowary Coast region such as Djiru, Girramay, Gulngay and Jirrbal. GAC is also the parent body of Girringun Art Centre in Cardwell with artists from these cultural groups. GAC also represents traditional owners and artists from outside the Cassowary Coast region including the Bandjin, Gugu Badhun, Nywaigi, Warrgamay and Warrungnu peoples. Traditional owners from these cultural groups have ongoing custodial responsibilities and contribute to the Wet Tropics Aboriginal Cultural and Natural Resource Management Plan.

The Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre was established in 2008 and has many artists who have exhibited nationally and internationally. Based in Cardwell, it is the only Aboriginal Art Centre in the Cassowary Coast region. Artist members produced a series of upscaled ‘Bagu’ sculptures as public art along the Cardwell foreshore.