Programs & Services
Native Title
Since its establishment, LAAC has proudly upheld its role as the recognised Native Title Body Corporate for the Mparntwe, Irlpme, and Antulye Estate Groups. This responsibility involves protecting and managing Native Title rights and interests on behalf of Traditional Owners.
Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation administers land as a representative of the Arrernte people of the Mparntwe, Antulye, and Irlpme estates. The Arrernte people’s ownership of the land was recognised in the Alice Springs determination of May 2000.
The Alice Springs determination arose from a claim over 166 separate parcels of land within and around Alice Springs. This claim was litigated within the Federal Court. In opposition to the native title claim, the Northern Territory government argued that native title had been extinguished by pastoral leases. This argument was rejected by the Federal Court.
The Court determined that native title exists in whole or part of 113 of the 166 areas claimed; in the remainder, native title rights and interests had been extinguished. In areas where native title does exist, they confer non-exclusive rights to possession, occupation, use, and enjoyment of the determination area.
In addition to the Alice Springs determination, Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation also administers five Indigenous Land Use Agreements and a land release agreement. These agreements concern development within particular parts of the determination area.