A joint statement has been released by eight mayors from Queensland’s Cape York region, soundly decrying Indigenous leader Noel Pearson’s control over policies in the region.

Mayors from Aurukun, Mapoon, Lockhart River, Kowanyama, Napranum and the Northern Peninsula area say Mr Pearson has gained too much control over Cape York-related funding, policy and service delivery.

The mayors are upset at reading about a new system of funding allocation for the region for the first time in newspapers, saying they should have been consulted over changes to education and community funding in their areas.

The statement is the result of a newly-launched 'Empowered Communities' blueprint, which seeks to improve the way funds are spent in Indigenous communities.

Napranum Mayor Philemon Mene says he heard nothing from Mr Pearson in the development of the plan, asking him to “work with us, rather than trying to be the Mayor of Cape York.”

Cr Wayne Butcher says: “We have to wake up every morning to the social issues in our community... you'd think the best people to make any decision over addressing social issues in our community is the community themselves. But that hasn't been the case for such a long time.”