1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: We know that today is an incredibly significant day. The 2 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: handback ceremony, a handback ceremony is going to be taking 3 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: place the europ hunger Well traditional owners of the Europhunga 4 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:17,959 Speaker 1: and the Mangai Aboriginal Land Trust. They're advising that they're 5 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,440 Speaker 1: going to be celebrating the official handbag of the Europunga 6 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:23,959 Speaker 1: Township and joining us on the line to tell us 7 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: a little bit more about exactly what is happening. It 8 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:30,639 Speaker 1: is the NLC CEO Joe Martin Jard good morning to you, 9 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: Joey's good morning, Katie. Lovely to have you on the show. Joe, 10 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: I understand that this ceremony, the handback ceremony, happening in 11 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: about twenty minutes time. Tell us what's happening. 12 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 2: I look with the showgrounds at Matter Ranker and we've 13 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: got a really good turn up. Minister Ken Whatt, the 14 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 2: average Affairs minister. He flew in this morning from Darwen 15 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 2: then and he's been joined by Senator McCarthy and Jesslena 16 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 2: you both stand here a few other dignitaries. So it's 17 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 2: a really good turn up. And we're outside trying to 18 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 2: be COVID safe in an open area. 19 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: Yep. 20 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 2: And yeah, it's a really good atmosphere here today, Katie. 21 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: Joe, what does it mean for those traditional owners that 22 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: this official handback ceremony is taking place? 23 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 2: It just means the end of a long road. I 24 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 2: think that the land claim was lodged. I think someone 25 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 2: told me nineteen years ago or something or even longer. So. 26 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: And you know, to see some old people who have 27 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 2: been on the journey from day one here today with 28 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 2: big smiles on their faces, it's just terrific to see. 29 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: It would be, it'd be terrific to see. And so 30 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: it's the talk us through I suppose for those of 31 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: us that maybe don't know exactly, you know exactly where 32 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: it is. And when we talk about the handbag of 33 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: this land, where is it exactly? Joe? 34 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 2: Well, it's near Mataranka. And if you drive out towards 35 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: Raper River, the mouth of Raper River and the community 36 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 2: of Nooka, it's out in that direction and you'll come 37 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 2: across you're a Punga near the Raper Bar crossing. It's 38 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 2: out in that neck of the woods. So to Pharaoh 39 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: drive from Darwin, they we're talking about probably eight hours. 40 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: Wow, Joe, how are those traditional owners you said that 41 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: you think this land claim was launched about nineteen years ago, 42 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: that's an awfully long time. Well, a long time ago, Joe. 43 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 1: Let's go with a long time ago. It's spending a 44 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 1: bloody long time. How they how are they feeling today? 45 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: It's just great. And you know, we're seeing these old 46 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 2: folks who first lodge the claim then are turning up 47 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 2: with their grandkids. So we've got kids and all sorts 48 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 2: of people today. It's a really nice atmosphere. It's so positive. 49 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: Oh well, I'm pleased to hear, and no doubt an 50 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: incredibly historic day for everybody involved. So thank you very 51 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: much for having a chat with us this morning. And 52 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 1: I'm sure that the ceremony and everything's going to go 53 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: very smoothly. It'll be really nice to see the photos 54 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:21,679 Speaker 1: and the vision come out of there, I reckon as well, 55 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 1: as you've said, with those traditional owners with their grandkids 56 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: and everybody there to really celebrate the occasion. 57 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie, all the best. 58 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: Thanks Mate, you too.