Decades-long fight leads to historic rights recognition
The Federal Court on Friday awarded the historic native title determination to the Indigenous peoples of the Millewa-Mallee from northwest Victoria, for the first time granting exclusive native title rights in the state.
Exclusive native title means the three traditional owner groups which make up the First Nations peoples of the Millewa-Mallee - Latji Latji, Ngintait and Nyeri Nyeri - have the right to control access to their Country under traditional law and customs.
The determination covers thousands of square kilometres including Mildura and extending through the Murray-Sunset National Park to the South Australia border.
It is the strongest form of native title rights and something the Latji Latji, Ngintait and Nyeri Nyeri people have been granted over some areas included in the determination.
Shane Jones Senior, a Latji Latji man and the applicant for the peoples of the Millewa-Mallee, said he was proud of the result.
"Alongside all First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee, including the Ngintait and Nyeri Nyeri peoples, we continue to live our culture," he said.
"With native title, our present and future generations can continue the legacy of all our Elders and emerging Elders."
The decision sets a precedent that may support other native title holders and claim groups to seek this same form of recognition.
The native title holders also have non-exclusive rights, including the right to access the land and use its resources, and to protect sites, objects and places of cultural and spiritual significance.
Nyeri Nyeri elder Wendy Brabham said the group have been seeking native title recognition for more than 25 years.
"I hear the voices of our Nyeri Nyeri Ancestors, I hear the voices of our present generations," she said.
"They weathered the storm; we are still weathering the storm."
Ms Brabham said she hopes future generations will build on the Federal Court's decision to honour the ancestors by continuing to strengthen, preserve and share culture.
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