Far North Queensland Ports Corporation acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land and sea of the Port of Cairns, Mourilyan, Cape Flattery, Thursday Island, Karumba, Skardon River, and Cooktown and recognises their continuing cultural and spiritual connection to land and water. We pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Ports North manage a network of 9 regional ports in Far North Queensland. Collectively, this network provides valuable goods and services to remote Indigenous communities in Cape York Peninsula, the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Torres Strait Island.
Ports North understands the importance of integrating cultural and indigenous stories, learnings and skills into the land and seas in which our ports operate. We have a range of First Nations partnerships in place to guide and enhance aspects of our port operations and honour the varying narratives and forms of First Nations expression.
As part of the Cairns CityPort precinct, five Indigenous public artworks have been commissioned and exhibited in prominent positions along the waterfront. Of particular significance is the artwork at the entrance to the cruise terminal. By renowned Australian indigenous artist, the late Dr Thancoupie Gloria Fletcher AO, the sculpture depicts a legend of The Lovers, cased in bronze, where Moon and Star become lovers.
Ports North has also supported the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF), an annual four-day event showcasing indigenous culture and art, for more than 10 years. In 2017, the event was awarded the Premier’s Reconciliation Award for Best Business Partnerships between CIAF and Ports North.
We regularly sponsor NAIDOC Week lunches for the Torres Strait Regional Council. We have also engaged Yirrganydji Traditional Owners to monitor and remove mangrove seedlings along the Cairns Esplanade foreshore in a three-year agreement. And both Yirrganydji and Gimuy Walubara Yidinji Traditional Owners have been engaged to conduct environmental monitoring during the delivery of the Cairns Shipping Development Project.
Find out more about Ports North here.
Check out Ports Australia's Ports on the map of Indigenous Australia here.
