The Indigenous people of Cape York have established five community-driven not-for-profit organisations that are working to build strong individuals and families.

• The Cape York Land Council was founded after the inaugural Cape York Aboriginal Land Conference in Lockhart River in September 1990.
• Apunipima Cape York Health Council and Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation were established as part of the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) Peninsula Regional Plan 1995-2005.
• Cape York Partnerships Projects was established to bring a closer working relationship between community and government, and has evolved into a community development centre.
• Lastly, the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership was established with the support of Griffith University to develop Indigenous policy and leadership.

Background
Cape York ’s lush rainforests, beautiful beaches and harsh dry landscapes have been home to Indigenous people for thousands of years.

With the arrival of Europeans in the 1870s, the Indigenous people were forced to live in reserves that were strictly controlled by the Department of Native Affairs. Indigenous people were stripped of their rights.

In the 1960s Indigenous people at last won full voting rights and the Government's stance changed from one of control to welfare support.

Today, life expectancies of Cape York ’s Indigenous population are 20 years below that of mainstream Australia and communities suffer endemic alcohol and substance abuse and no real economy.

However, for more than ten years, the Indigenous people of Cape York have been working to turn these problems around.

Many local Indigenous people have been instrumental in the battle for a better future. Prominent local leaders include Noel Pearson, Gerhardt Pearson and Richie Ah Mat.

Noel Pearson
NOEL PEARSON was involved in the establishment of the Cape York Land Council in 1990 and the other regional indigenous organisations representing the people of Cape York Peninsula, including Apunipima Cape York Health Council in 1994 and Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation in 1996. He chairs the board of the Cape York Partnerships Projects P/L office and is a board member of Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships. He is now the Director of the Cape York Institute.

Gerhardt Pearson
GERHARDT PEARSON was appointed as the foundation Executive Director of Balkanu by the Board of Directors in January 1997. Gerhardt is a Bama Bagaarrmugu of the Guuguwarrra Nation from Kalpowa and Jeanie River area. The Lama Lama refer to his group as the Mbarimakarranma or people from the little Red Flying Fox area.

Gerhardt has worked in community administration as a Council Clerk both for Hope Vale and Pormpuraaw communities.

He has been actively involved in Cape York politics for many years and has represented Cape York on a state and national level including a six year position as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSIC) Commissioner for the Far North West Zone. Gerhardt was a founding member of the Tharpuntoo Legal Service, Cape York Land Council, Apunipima and Balkanu. In 1997 he was the first Indigenous Council Clerk to replace the State Governments Executive Officer based within the fourteen Cape York community councils.

During 1998 Gerhardt formed the Aboriginal Council Clerk’s Association, representing the fourteen Council Clerks. He also served on numerous committees and Boards in relation to Education, Social Welfare, Northern Development, Training, Housing and Infrastructure.

Richie Ah Mat
RICHIE AH MAT has traditional land around the Pennefather River region. His clan are refered to as the Yupangathi group whose lands are within the Napranum and Mapoon DOGIT'S.

The area is mostly inhabited by Comalco Pty Ltd and Alcan Pty Ltd mining leases. Richie was actively involved in high level negotiations with both Comalco and Alcan which resulted in the Western Cape York Communities Co-existence Agreement that was formally signed in March 2001 and will see royalties, cultural heritage, Employment and Training and a number of other benefits for the communities of Weipa, Napranum, Aurukun, Mapoon and New Mapoon..

Richie has served as Chairperson and later Executive Director of the Cape York Land Council. Richie has also been a board member of the Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation.