Felicity Hayes and her family are the Traditional Owners of Alice Springs and the Native Title Holders. They live at Irrkerlantye (White Gate), a small community in Alice Springs.

Despite being Traditional Owners, recognised in both Arrernte and Western law, her family continues to live in tin sheds and have no water security.

For 40 years they have been fighting to secure tenure, water and power.

In 2014, in an effort to remove them off their country, the NT Government turned off a temporary makeshift water supply. It has not been restored.

Families continue to live at Irrkerlantye and over the past three years it has been the site of early years learning sessions.

Children’s Ground has been supporting Felicity and her family to negotiate their rights with the NT Government over the past three years.

After many meetings and negotiations with the Government, things are starting to look positive. However, we still await formal recognition of rights and commitment to permanent infrastructure.

Read about Felicity’s Aunty and the history and struggle of the families of Irrkerlantye here.