The late Gladys Tybingoomba was born in 1946 at Knox River, south of Aurukun on western Cape York. At eight years of age, she was removed from her home and placed in the Aurukun Mission School. Mrs Tybingoomba became a revered Elder of the Wik-Mungkan people and a founding member of the Cape York Land Council. She was at the forefront of the Wik Native Title struggle and is famous for her dances: outside the High Court in Canberra to celebrate the victory of the Wik people on 23 December 1996, and in front of Parliament House in 1998. Later she was active in educating children in traditional ways and in highlighting the importance of land and its relationship to the Wik people.