Senior Lore Man of the Muntaba Kalkatungu People, Patingo (William Doyle) has been meeting with government departments in Mount Isa to coordinate responses to youth crime.

Mr Doyle said he was asserting his sovereign rights through the Kalkatungu traditional lore to assume full responsibility of administrative affairs of the traditional country in which Mount Isa City and its boundaries were established.

"For decades we have observed successive legislation, policies and programs come and go by both state and federal governments which have continually failed our people," Mr Doyle said.

"It's well documented that Queensland's youth detention centres and adult prisons are overflowing, with more jails earmarked to be built."

Mr Doyle said the Muntaba Kalkatungu Tribal Governing Council would like to see royalties used for culturally driven strength-based youth programs, which incorporate education, training and employment on-country with a whole-of-family focus.

"I hear and read the comments of people of Mount Isa, who are sick of youth crime and the ongoing drain on community resources," he said.

"I feel the problem is not being addressed effectively; resources are misdirected to agencies who are inexperienced, ill-equipped and lack the cultural and local knowledge to address the underlying causes.

"The Muntaba Kalkatungu Tribal Governing Council is currently working closely with other traditional owners and with other surrounding clan group as well as with a trusted local community led organisation, which has a long term track record of success in achieving positive outcomes for young people."

Mr Doyle said the Muntaba Kalktungu Tribal Governing Council will convene a meeting in Mount Isa with state government departments and the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs in the coming weeks to secure resources to begin the initiative early next year.

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