Three Victorian Indigenous Communities Secure Complete Native Title Rights to Ancestral Lands

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An historic native title determination has seen exclusive native title rights granted to three Traditional Owner groups in north-west Victoria.

The Latji Latji, Ngintait and Nyeri Nyeri peoples celebrated the end of a decades-long fight on Friday with a Federal Court ruling that their application for native title, formally lodged in 2015, was valid.

The determination covers an area which includes Mildura and stretches to the South Australian border.

The ruling, the first of its kind in the state, grants the Traditional Owner groups non-exclusive rights, including the right to access the land, use its resources, and protect sites, objects and places of cultural and spiritual significance.

Representatives from the three groups, gathered in Mildura for the determination, expressed their joy at the successful end to their long-running claim.

The native title determination area in Victoria’s north west.

“As a Latji Latji man, I am proud that our rights and interests are formally recognised on the lands where my ancestors lived,” said Shane Jones Snr.

“With native title, our present and future generations can continue the legacy of all our Elders and emerging Elders.”

Nyeri Nyeri Elder Wendy Brabham spoke of her mother’s fight for land rights stretching back to the 1970s.

“[We] suffered, until now, an onslaught of rejections,” she said in a statement.

“I hear the voices of our Nyeri Nyeri Ancestors, I hear the voices of our present generations … They weathered the storm; we are still weathering the storm.

“I hope our future generations of all our family groups will build on today’s decision to honour our Ancestors by strengthening, preserving and sharing our Culture.”

Timothy Johnson hailed the collaboration between the three Traditional Owner groups in attaining the native title determination, and welcomed the decision.

“It means we can continue to care and look after the lands where our ancestors walked, hunted and held ceremonies on.”