Qld traditional owners in new mining deal THE Wik people of Cape York want to own their share of the resource boom on native title lands in a possible deal they want to see replicated. Queensland Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney is expected to announce on Tuesday a joint-venture between traditional owners and aluminum entrepreneur John Benson's Aust-Pac Capital, which has been short-listed to develop an Aurukun bauxite mine. Indigenous leader Gerhardt Pearson reportedly said if the joint venture, Australian Indigenous Resources, wins the project it will send shock waves through the industry and change how miners do business with Aboriginal people. "This deal is about moving traditional owners from being rent seekers, receiving royalties from the exploitation of their lands, to becoming substantial equity holders," he told The Australian newspaper.