Nearly two years after an historic land hand-back, an Aboriginal group is for the first time taking tourists to its traditional land on Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula.

The Olkola traditional owners have partnered with Intrepid travel for the six-day trip around southern Cape York, with the first tour leaving today.

They will traverse rainforest, wetlands, ceremonial grounds, ancient rock art sites and endangered bird habitat.

Olkola Aboriginal Corporation acting chief executive Debbie Symonds was proud to show off her traditional country to the rest of the world.

“It’s untouched in that it’s never been commercial and it’s never been open to the public,” she said.

“They’re kind of immersed in what Olkola is and what Olkola country is and our culture and our heritage.

“They have bush camps, and at night they sit by the fire and listen to stories and they’re invited as guests onto country through traditional ways.”

The Queensland Government in December 2014 returned nearly 8,000 square kilometres of land to the Olkola People, the single largest hand-back in the state’s history.

Not wanting to pursue mining, the Olkola People decided to venture into carbon farming through savannah burning, cattle grazing and eco-tourism to derive an income from their land.

Source
ABC News