The Aboriginal Shire of Kowanyama is a special local government area which is located on western Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia.

Aboriginal people from the region were gradually drawn from their traditional lands into the mission settlement.

Language groups associated with countries in the Kowanyama region are Yir-Yoront, Yirrk Thangalkl, Koko Bera and Kunjen (Uw Oykangand and Olkola dialects).

Kunjen (also known as Koko Wanggara, Ngundjan and Olkola) is a language of Western Cape York.

[citation needed] KALNRMO employs Indigenous rangers as part of a cultural and economic development programme.

The Rangers also observe fisheries regulations, especially for illegal commercial or recreational fishing in closed waters.

Beginning in 2007, the Rangers monitor threatened turtle populations and participate in the Carpentaria Ghost Nets Programme to remove debris (primarily fishing nets) discarded into the Gulf of Carpentaria by commercial fishermen from Australia and Indonesia.