Incoming councillors of the Groote Archipelago Regional Council have been sworn in at a declaration of undertaking ceremony held as part of Council's first meeting.
It comes after the appointment of the Council's first members was announced earlier this month.
Thursday's ceremony saw the swearing in of councillors Violet Huddlestone, Kieranson Wurramurra, Constantine Mamarika, Gordon Walsh and Gregson Lalara in the presence of Groote Archipelago Regional Council CEO, Shane Marshall, and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Development, Steve Edgington.
Established as part of the Anindilyakwa Land Council's Local Decision-Making Agreement in 2018, the Council is comprised of three wards – West, Central and East.
Anindilyakwa Land Council chair Cherelle Wurrawilya said her people had "fought hard for many years to see the return of local government to Anindilyakwa communities".
"We welcome this decision to empower Anindilyakwa voices by establishing a new ward structure, to ensure that the new council is established the right way from the beginning," she said, the NT News reports.
After meeting five of the seven newly elected councillors, Mr Edgington said Council's formation marks "a proud and exciting time and a significant moment in the history of the Groote Archipelago Region."
"We have a great mix of experience and youth, women and men, from across the archipelago. Some bring years of experience as councillors and local authority members, even a former CEO, while others are stepping into leadership roles for the first time," he said.
"We promised to foster self-determination and strengthen service delivery through important reform in the Groote Archipelago Region, and we achieved this by working with locals to provide a council structure that reflected what the community wanted.
"I know that restoring control of communities to Aboriginal people is fundamental to rebuilding our economy and restoring our unique Territory lifestyle, creating real opportunities for locals to have a more active role in community development and decision-making processes."
At the inaugural meeting councillors heard from various organisations, including the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory and the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.
Mr Edgington acknowledged the work of the Anindilyakwa Land Council, one of the Northern Territory's four Aboriginal land councils, for their significant contributions to progressing local decision-making.
"With both Groote and Anindilyakwa councils now settled, these organisations are well positioned to collaborate on projects that support community wellbeing and economic growth," he said.
