Our Community
More than 1,500 Aboriginal people make up the Dambimangari community. Most members live in Mowanjum and Derby, but we have also moved as far as Broome, One Arm Point, Port Hedland and Perth. It is difficult for us to access our remote country. Many of our Elders have passed away. Although dislocated from traditional country by government policy and history, we have a clear sense of identity and tradition.
Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation
The Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation (DAC), works for the Traditional Owners to help manage the Dambimangari Determination Area.
The Wanjina Wunggurr Dambimangari Native Title claim was lodged on the 24th June 1996. DAC was set up long before we got our Native Title. the first DAC meeting was held at yaloon on 28 October 2006, with its first Chair Donny Woolagoodja.
We have built a corporation with more than 30 staff, strong governance structures, manage our IPA and Ranger Program, negotiate robust agreements, publish books and have strong partnerships to support us.
The Corporation is lead by a board of directors including: Gary Umbagai (Chair), Leah Umbagai (Vice Chair), Kallum Mungulu, Kirsty Burgu, Marilee Liddell, Rowena Mouda, Cecelia Umbagai, Francis Woolagoodja, Pete O’Connor and Stamatis Skiadas.
Dambimangari people are part of a wider community group called the Wandjina Woongudd community which includes Wunambal, Gaambera, Ngarinyin and Wordordda. There were three native title determinations to cover all this country – the Wanjina Wunggurr Dambimangari, the Wanjina Wunggurr Wilinggin and the Wanjina Wunggurr Uunguu Determinations. The Dambimangari Determination area is part of this larger cultural community in the West Kimberley from the sea inland to the pastoral country of Ngarinyin Traditional Owners. We all share a unique body of beliefs and cultural practices going back to Lalai, the dreaming, when the creator beings, Wandjina and Woongudd helped shape the earth.
