The Warokutal Story
Safari Camp
Warokutal is a significant birthplace and burial site for the Lama Lama People. It is a traditional campsite locally referred to as Safari Camp and known as a place of open sand. In the 1900s, Warokutal became the site of the Port Stewart Aboriginal Reserve. In 1961, a number of Lama Lama families were forcibly removed from their Aakurru (homelands) under the protection of the Department of Native Affairs. They were sent to either Lockhart River, Bamaga, Palm Island, Yarrabah and Cowl Creek.
Returning to Yintjingga and regaining their traditional lands
In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, Lama Lama Elders were able to return to Yintjingga (Port Stewart) to live and camp. By 1992, the Queensland Government officially handed back this section of land to the Lama Lama Traditional Owners under Aboriginal Freehold Title. Then in 2008, ownership of almost all the traditional lands were returned to the Lama Lama Land Trust and its corporate vehicle Yintjingga Aboriginal Corporation.
Lama Lama Ranger Program
A huge focus for the Traditional Owners today is coordinating their extensive ranger program. They run conservation and land management activities, including biodiversity and water quality assessments, weed and feral animal control, and visitor management. The country they look after stretches from Maramba (Silver Plains), through Yaakarru (Running Creek) and south to Rindorparr (Marina Plains).
Lama Lama Country
Drive out to Port Stewart
Kitchen Shelter
Map of the country managed by the Yintjingga Aboriginal Corporation
Warokutal Family Tree
Note some family members may be deceased. Their names should not be spoken of in respect for that person and their family.
This family tree is currently unavailable. As we work more closely with the Traditional Owners of Warokutal Homeland, Red Earth will piece together family connections so that we can share this information with our staff.
Warokutal Cultural Educators
Alison Liddy
Elaine Liddy
Gavin Bassani
Karen Liddy
Tyrone Spratt
Additional Resources
Learn more about Lama Lama Country by visiting their website.
Read up by the Lama Lama language through the State Library of Queensland.