The Tiwi Land Council was established following requests by the Tiwi people for recognition of their distinct geographic and cultural identity. These representations were a consequence of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 which came into operation on 26 January 1977.
A special gathering on Bathurst Island attended by the then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Honourable Ian Viner instituted the Tiwi Land Council on 7 September 1978 following Gazettal of the Land Council in Special Gazette No S 162 of 18 August 1978.
The Tiwi Land Council aims to manage, protect and develop the interests of the Tiwi people in order to build and maintain an independent and resilient Tiwi society.
References
Tiwi Land Council Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA