8 July 2025
Navy acknowledges its strong connection with the Saltwater People of Blue Mud Bay, in honour of NAIDOC Week.
On July 30, 2008, the full bench of the High Court of Australia confirmed that the traditional owners of Blue Mud Bay, together with the traditional owners of almost the entire Northern Territory coastline, had exclusive rights to the tidal waters overlaying Aboriginal land.
This was the first decision of the court that conferred ownership of the sea, and has become known as ‘Sea Rights’.
The High Court inextricably linked the Royal Australian Navy to the Indigenous history of the Saltwater People from around the coastline of Australia, as its role is to defend Australia and protect all Australians, on and from the sea.
Madarpa Elder and clan leader Djambawa Marawili was one of the leaders of the ‘Sea Rights’ case and continues to live on the shores of Blue Mud Bay in East Arnhem.
Djambawa invited Navy to participate in this shared maritime narrative.
Over the past few years, Navy has worked closely with the Saltwater People of Blue Mud Bay to understand and foster this connection, founded on a common understanding of the past, a deep respect for lore and a shared vision of the future.
This vision embraces and acknowledges the ownership, use and care of the sea in which the Navy operates.
In 2023, Djambawa presented Chief of Navy with a bark artwork of Madarrpa bäru (crocodile) as the source of the Yirritja gurtha (fire), standing alert at his sacred homeland of Yathikpa.
The lirrtji (tongues of flame) reach out to strengthen the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force as it was this fire the bäru used to defend himself from provocation while strengthening connections with others across the region.
It is Djambawa and Navy’s intent to evolve the shared maritime narrative that acknowledges the history of both Navy and First Nations people’s connection to the sea.
Navy’s regional Indigenous development coordinators located at HMA Ships Stirling, Albatross, Cerberus, Kuttabul, Coonawarra and Cairns work closely with local First Nations communities and can advise of engagement opportunities that enable the shared maritime narrative.
