The Traditional Owner Groups of the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Region
There are seven tribal groups of Country bound by the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac (MWI) Natural Resource Management (NRM) boundary. They include the Juru, Gia, Ngaro, Yuwibara, Koinmerburra, Barada and Widi people.
Reef Catchments are committed to working with our region's Traditional Owners to manage, maintain and protect tribal lands and sea within the MWI region. We discuss, develop and deliver opportunities to build capacity within the region, share cultural heritage and environmental values, and seek to develop opportunities to reconnect with Country.
The MWI Traditional Owner Groups consist of the following:
Juru Country
Includes lands north of Bowen.
Gia Country
Includes the mainland adjacent to the Whitsunday Islands, north to Bowen, south to O’Connell River and east to the Clarke Connor Ranges.
Ngaro Country
Includes the Whitsunday Islands and the mainland coastlines where they traded with Gia people.
Yuwibara Country
Yuwibara country boundary is north to Midge Point, south to Cape Palmerston, west to the Clarke Conner Range and 10 nautical miles east of the coastline.
Koinmerburra Country
Includes Pine Mountain (Normanby Range) across to Styx River, north along the coast to Cape Palmerston, west to the Clarke Connor Range.
Barada Country
Barada boundary is west of the Clarke Connor Ranges, south of Homevale National Park.
Widi Country
Widi boundary is west of the Clarke Connor Ranges, north of Homevale National Park.