Our Native Title team recently had the honour of working on-country alongside our Lama Lama clients for a significant hearing. This unique experience provided a profound opportunity to understand the deep, ongoing connection the Lama Lama people maintain with their traditional lands.
The On-Country Hearing at Silver Plains
The focal point of this stage of the proceedings was the on-country lay evidence hearing, which took place across multiple sites throughout Silver Plains. This area is located approximately 70 kilometres east of Coen on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.
The hearing was presided over by Chief Justice Mortimer, who travelled to the remote locations to receive direct evidence. The format allowed Lama Lama representatives to present crucial testimony regarding their ongoing connection to country and cultural practices within the traditional boundaries.
The Chief Justice was taken to a diverse range of environments that form the Lama Lama estate. Evidence was heard at key locations, including lagoons and expansive bushland, stretching across beaches along the coast, and along the banks of freshwater rivers. These sites are integral to the cultural landscape and are central to the evidence provided by the community members.
Observing and Understanding Cool Burning
A key aspect of our team’s time on-country involved witnessing and learning about traditional land management practices. In preparation for the hearing, the P&E Law team got to observe cool burning.
Community members explained the methodology and significance of this practice. Cool burning involves conducting low-intensity fires that are meticulously timed and executed as a means of caring for the country. The purpose of these controlled burns is multifaceted:
- Reducing fuel loads to prevent destructive, large-scale wildfires.
- Protecting sensitive ecosystems from damage.
- Encouraging new plant growth and maintaining the health of the traditional food and resource sources.
This firsthand observation provided essential context regarding the Lama Lama people’s active and generational stewardship of their lands.
A Privileged and Honoured Experience
The entire P&E Law team feels honoured and privileged to have participated in this stage of the native title process. Working closely with the Lama Lama people on their country offered invaluable insights that cannot be gained in a conventional courtroom setting.
The experience has reinforced the significance of the work being done and the deep cultural importance of native title to Indigenous communities. Our team’s dedication to supporting our clients throughout this complex legal journey remains resolute.
The hearing will now move from the traditional lands of Silver Plains to the next stage, which is scheduled to continue in Cairns.
Oct 2025