Malu Ki'ai (Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation RNTBC

The Malui Ki’ai (Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation administers the recognised native title rights and interests of the Boigu people. The Boigu people have native title over the Talbot Islands, including, the most northerly inhabited island in the Torres Strait, Boigu Island, and 14 nearby uninhabited islands and islets. The Boigu people’s rights over the land were recognised in the People of Boigu Island #2 determination. The claim leading to this determination was first lodged in 1998 by Sipau Gibuma on behalf of all the families of the Boigu people. The claim was amended a number of times and negotiations (including two Indigenous Land Use Agreements) continued until and all parties agreed to recognise the Boigu people’s native title rights in 2005. These rights include:

• Exclusive possession of land, and
• Non-exclusive right to use water and hunt and collect from it for personal, non-commercial or domestic communal uses.

The Federal Court approved the party’s agreement and determined that native title exists in the determination area and can be exercised in the ways agreed to by the parties during negotiations.