Birriliburu takes that name from Pirilipurru which is a soak in the central north of the claim area.

The Birriliburu Traditional Owners are the Martu people, whose traditional, ecological and cultural knowledge stretches back more than 40,000 years.

There are three Western Desert dialects associated with the determination area, namely: Putijara, Kartutjara and Mantjiltjara. Pirilipurru soak is described by the native title holders as "mix-up country" where the three dialects overlap. 

The determination area is crossed from the southwest to the central north by the southern portion of the Canning Stock Route.

The majority of the Birriliburu determination area is subject to exclusive possession.

This is the highest form of native title recognised by law and means that in most cases, entry onto the Birriliburu determination area will require the consent of the Birriliburu native title holders.

Birriliburu Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) was dedicated in 2013 and stretches over 6.6 million hectares of striking desert.