The Nukunu people filed and registered their native title claim with the National Native Title Tribunal on 10 April 1996 and lodged the claim with the Federal Court of Australia on 16 December 1998.
The claim was originally made by James Alexander Bramfield, Margaret Elizabeth Smith, Douglas John Graham, Lindsay John Thomas, and Rosalie Elizabeth Turner.
After a 23-year wait, Nukunu had their first native title determination (Nukunu Part A) recognised by the Federal Court of Australia at the Port Germein and Districts Hall on 17 June 2019.
The Part A determination includes Mount Remarkable (Warkalitya) and the towns of Red Hill, Crystal Brook, Gladstone, Jamestown, Laura, Port Pirie, Port Germein, Booleroo Centre, Baroota, Melrose, and Quorn. The area is approximately 15,000 km2 and extends into the waters of the Spencer Gulf.
Unresolved areas from the Part A claim were finalised in the Nukunu Area 2 determination on 3 February 2022. The determination was delivered via teleconference to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Area 2 determination includes half of the eastern part of Port Augusta City Council area, Wami Kata, Mundallio, Stirling North, Winninowie, Miranda, and includes a section of the Spencer Gulf coastline. The approximate area size is 983.9361 km2.
As part of the determinations the Nukunu people nominated their prescribed body corporate, the Nukunu Wapma Thura Aboriginal Corporation incorporated in 2019 to represent the rights and interests of all Nukunu people.
