Northern Cape York is 921 km north of Cairns and 35 kms southwest of Thursday Island. The traditional lands of the Injinoo people extend from the Skardon River on the west coast and Captain Billy's Landing on the east coast up to Pajinka at the top of Cape York. The community is the homeland of most of the traditional owners of the land that makes up the 5 Northern Peninsula Area communities : Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaikgana, and Gudang.
The NPA has an area of 1063 square km and a population of 2164 (Bamaga 869, Injinoo 463, New Mapoon 381, Seisia 184, Umagico 267). In 2008, the 5 communities of Bamaga, Injinoo, New Mapoon, Seisia & Umagico amalgamated as the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council. Languages spoken by NPA residents include English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol, Kalaw Kawaw Ya/Kalaw Lagaw Ya, and Mauritian Creole
The Queensland Government established a settlement at Somerset (Pulu) in 1864. Over the next 40 years, introduced diseases decimated the Aboriginal population in the area. The 5 major groupings - Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang - created their own settlement.
Seisia is the main port for the NPA. Bamaga is the area's commercial & administrative centre, and major government services are located there. Bamaga's community services include a hospital, health centre, ambulance service, family resource centre, healing centre, healthy lifestyles centre, home and community care, women's shelter and crisis shelter. There is also a pre-school, primary & secondary schools, and a TAFE college.
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