Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation chairperson and Traditional Owner Peter Hicks has questioned why two visiting Indigenous leaders from Canada did not contact or meet with the recognised representative body for Murujuga's Traditional Owners, despite travelling to Country and discussing concerns about industry.

Chief Na'Moks, a high chief of the Wet'suwet'en nation, and Gitxsan nation man Gwii Lok'im Gibuu Jesse Stoeppler travelled to the Burrup Peninsula and Murujuga National Park, citing concerns over the expansion of gas projects—issues that have also been debated within their homelands in British Columbia.

"Over the last 25 years in our homelands we have fended off upwards of 17 pipeline proposals and projects ... until around 2019 and 2020," Mr Stoeppler told the ABC.

On Murujuga, Woodside Energy has operated LNG facilities for four decades and recently secured approval to continue until 2070.

Environmental groups and some Traditional Owners have raised concerns about industrial proximity to the world-renowned rock art, which was recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List with the full support and advocacy of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, overseen by Mr Hicks and guided by its Circle of Elders.

Mr Hicks said he only learned of the two Canadian visitors after being asked about them during an unrelated interview, describing the lack of engagement with MAC as both surprising and inconsistent with cultural protocol.

"If you are coming, representing an Indigenous nation, you should meet with the representative body of the place you are visiting, for sure," he told National Indigenous Times.

"I was quite surprised... It has not been raised with me at all. I was surprised that the visit had taken place, but again there are activists and people in that arena using Aboriginal people - whether they are from here or internationally - to elevate their agenda.

"Any Aboriginal people, whether it is internationally or here within Australia, they have concerns around their areas that are sacred and mean a lot to them. Unless you actually knew their circumstances, for me it would be not right to comment without knowing their circumstances and sitting down with them to understand that. If they wanted our view of what is taking place in our area, they should sit with us - the representative body."

Mr Hicks emphasised that MAC is the legally recognised organisation responsible for safeguarding Murujuga's culture, heritage and Traditional Law.

"The MAC Board of Directors is nominated by the MAC membership to represent their interests in relation to Murujuga Cultural Landscape. The MAC Board is guided by advice from the Circle of Elders on matters of culture, heritage and traditional law. MAC is the only organisation that represents the interests of all Traditional Owner and Custodial groups with cultural, administrative and legislative responsibility for the Murujuga Cultural Landscape," he said.

Chief Na'Moks and Mr Stoeppler were guided around Murujuga by Traditional Owner Raelene Cooper.

Mr Hicks said he respected their right to advocate for their homelands but reiterated that meaningful dialogue about Murujuga must begin with MAC.

He added that "without knowing what their concerns are in their own country, it wouldn't be appropriate" for him to comment on the situation in British Columbia or Canada more broadly.

Woodside and the WA Government maintain that emissions from current operations in the area are not damaging the rock art, but recommend ongoing close monitoring, which is being coordinated by MAC. A scientific report released recently remains contested: some scientists claim the WA Government softened the executive summary, while the report's authors stand by their conclusions.