Tjiwarl native title covers an area of approximately 13,600 square km, taking in land and waters situated between the towns of Wiluna in the north and Leonora in the south. The west of the claim area extends over Booylgoo Range and part of Montague Range, and the east of the claim area extends over Mount Keith and Mount Sir Samuel. The title given to the claim – Tjiwarl – is the name of a spring located in the eastern part of the claim area. The word Tjiwarl means “something shining”.

For Tjiwarl People, the land is one living entity which they have a responsibility for. The health of land is central to culture. The land is respected and accords the Tjiwarl a responsibility to care for it. If one part of the land is impacted, it has a flow on effect to other interrelated parts. It is their tjukurrpa. They have been occupying their country for hundreds of thousands of years.

Determination:

Litigated determination-

27 April 2017

Compensation settlement:

23 May 2023

Tjiwarl became one of the first groups in Western Australia to file compensation claims. The settlement, called the Tjiwarl Palyakuwa (Agreement) is the result of Tjiwarl filing three compensation claims against the State in 2020. The claims were test cases for historic compensation for impact to culture and heritage within the now determined Tjiwarl area.