Tiwi Islands Indigenous Protected Area

"Just as Tiwi traditional owners understood and cared for our land when we used it for the traditions in the past, the new generations of Tiwi land managers need to understand and care for it now and into the future. To keep our country healthy, our people healthy and our culture strong, we need to bring together our knowledge of the past with new ways of doing things today. A Tiwi IPA will help us to continue to look after our country and our culture for all the generations to come."

Gibson Farmer Illortaminni, Former Tiwi Land Council Chairman

In 2025 the Tiwi Islands Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) was dedicated by the Australian Government and Tiwi Traditional Owners - adding 718,463 hectares to the Australian National Reserve System. A Tiwi IPA will deliver more than just environmental benefits, it will also help Tiwi protect the cultural values of their islands for future generations and result in significant health, education, economic and social benefits.

The IPA is managed by the Tiwi Ranger Program and administered by Tiwi Resources on behalf of the Tiwi Land Council. The Plan of Management highlights the strong connections between Tiwi people, country, traditional law, and culture, and demonstrates how the IPA will meet national and international standards for protected area management. It was developed through consultations with all eight Tiwi clans – Jikilaruwu, Mantiyupwi, Wurankuwu, Malawu, Munupi, Wulirankuwu, Yimpinari, and Marrikawuyanga – over three years.

The Plan of Management is available here.

Tiwi Islands IPA Committee

The Tiwi Islands IPA committee, which has three representatives from each clan group, is the core governance and decision-making group that directs how Tiwi people care for their land and sea Country. It oversees the implementation of the IPA Plan of Management and ensures that traditional law, culture, and community priorities drive all biodiversity conservation and cultural activities.

Committee members

Clan	Representatives
Jikilaruwu	Catherine (Molly) Munkara Agnella Tipungwuti James Puantulura
Mantiyupwi	Tina Patlas Banita Ullungura Tipiloura Cyril James Kerinaiua
Wurankuwu	Regina Kantilla Charlotte Portaminni Ron Poantimilui
Malawu	Jane Puautjimi Richard Puruntatameri Sebastian Tipungwuti
Munupi	Justina Puruntatameri Dion Apuatimi Joseph Warlapinni
Wulirankuwu	Karen Tipiloura Wendy Miller Dominic Tipiloura
Yimpinari Jipinuwu Paluwiyanga	Marilyn Kerinaiua John Wilson Andrew Bush
Marrikawuyanga	Pamela Brooks Donna Molaminni David Austral

Traditional Owner goals for IPA Values.

Tiwi IPA Values	Tiwi Goals
1. Tiwi Culture and People	Strong men and women and families maintaining and strengthening Tiwi culture, caring for country, respecting Elders, raising strong kids that know their country, language, totems, stories, dreamings, sacred sites and ceremony.
2. Cultural Places	Tiwi cultural places - sacred sites, spiritual places, hunting and camping areas, historic sites, and homelands - are intact, alive, protected, and cared for.
3. Tiwi Country	Country is respected, hunting and fishing is good, it’s easy to access important food gathering places, and there are no feral animals or weeds.
4. Plants and Animals	All Tiwi plants and animals are healthy, protected, and abundant, especially the plants and animals we use for food and culture.
5. Bush Tucker and Medicines	Knowledge and use of Tiwi foods and medicines from land and sea is strong and being passed on.
6. Rangers and the IPA	A Tiwi IPA with strong and committed Men, Women and Junior Rangers keeping land and sea country healthy and culture alive into the future.

Tiwi Islands IPA Logo

INCLUDE: IPA Logo

The Tiwi Islands IPA logo was developed by Traditional Owners and includes the following elements of cultural significance:

• Minta - Cycad (Cycas armstrongii)

• Pipirriwini - Dragonfly

• Jipwajirringa - Agile Wallaby

• Japalingini - Headband worn during Pukumani ceremonial dances

• Japurraringa - Forked fighting stick

‘Having this IPA will leave something for the future. We will have this IPA our whole lives, we can pass it on to the next generation. They will have it for their whole lives too. This is very good - good for country, good for culture, good for Tiwi!’

John Wilson, Tiwi IPA Committee

Further information:

Tiwi Islands IPA Manager admin@tiwiresources.com.au