Last week Ingkerreke Services Aboriginal Corporation (Ingkerreke) signed a Local Decision Making (LDM) Agreement with the NT Government in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). The LDM formally recognises Ingkerreke as a representative body for the 12 founding homelands whose traditional owners established the organisation in 1985.
From left: Amelia Turner, director of Ingkerreke; Eva Lawler, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory; Evert Tomlins, director of Ingkerreke; Jozan Collins, CEO of Ingkerreke.
The 12 homelands that Ingkerreke now formally represents all formed after the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 took effect. That law enables Aboriginal people to claim rights to unalienated Crown land if they can prove traditional or cultural connections to it. On the pastoral properties around Alice Springs, the only remaining Crown land was stock routes, so all these homelands formed from land claims on former stock routes.
In almost 40 years, Ingkerreke has grown considerably. It now services 281 properties in 57 homelands across Central Australia, and takes pride in overcoming the challenges of providing housing, municipal, infrastructure and other support services in remote locations.
The LDM will further Ingkerreke’s goal to share authority and to inform policy, programs and services in the homelands they represent. This is an important step towards genuine self-determination and ultimately building a sustainable and healthy future for Central homelands and their residents. We know that when service delivery is in Aboriginal hands, there are improved outcomes for our communities.
Skye Thompson, CEO of Aboriginal Housing Northern Territory (AHNT) said:
This is a massive achievement. It’s a testament to Ingkerreke’s cultural authority and to the collective strength of its team-members in delivering high-quality services, better infrastructure and job opportunities to Aboriginal people in Alice Springs.
Skye Thompson, CEO of Aboriginal Housing Northern Territory (AHNT) Aboriginal Corporation (centre), with staff and directors of Ingkerreke.
Background
AHNT celebrates all its members who have successfully negotiated LDMs that map the transition of services and programs to Aboriginal control.
Ngurratjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation signed its LDM agreement on 11 April 2024 on behalf of the communities and outstations in the Ngurratjuta region west of Alice Springs.
In July 2020, Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation signed their LDM as representative of the 11 Town Camp Associations and 5 Aboriginal Corporations in Alice Springs.
Anindilyakwa Housing Aboriginal Corporation (AHAC) are a signatory to the Groote Archipelago LDM agreement signed in June 2019.
Each agreement paves the way to meeting community aspirations for self-determination and improves access to local jobs in housing and homelands services.