Local Aboriginal groups

Both Ranger and Jabiluka are located on Aboriginal land.  ERA accepts responsibilities for world best practice land and environmental management and acknowledges the needs and expectations of the Aboriginal landowners - the Mirarr Gundjeihmi.

Three Aboriginal associations are associated with ERA’s activities in the Northern Territory.

The Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation was established in 1995 to represent the interests of the members of the Mirarr clan, the Traditional Owners of both the Ranger and Jabiluka areas. With approximately 25 members, all whom are also members of the Djabulukgu and Gagudju Associations.  The Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation has been the main recipient of local community royalties generated by ERA since the late 1990s and is focussed on protecting the cultural heritage of the Mirarr people.

The Djabulukgu Association formed in 1982 to receive the royalties from the Jabiluka mine.  Djabulukgu consists of the Traditional Owners and affected Aboriginals of the Jabiluka lease, approximately 80 people, directed by an elected committee.  Most members of the Djabulukgu are members of the Gagudju. Djabulukgu Association has established several tourist enterprises, built housing in Jabiru and nearby communities, and continues to manage and deliver health services to the region via the Kakadu Health Service.  It currently focuses on tourism development in the Cannon Hill area of Kakadu National Park and the delivery of health services. 

The Gagudju (the origin word for Kakadu) Association is the largest of the associations and consists of approximately 225 Aboriginal people of clans that originally occupied the lands of central and northern Kakadu National Park. It was established in 1980 to manage royalties payable to these people from uranium sales from Ranger mine. The Gagudju have invested in businesses such as the famous Crocodile Hotel at Jabiru, the Cooinda Lodge and the Jabiru Mobil service station. Also supplying services to its members, the Gagudju is managed by an elected committee of members.

Legally, on matters of land, ERA must direct all its dealings with the Aboriginal owners through their legal representative, the Northern Land Council (NLC).