Victorian Traditional Owner Groups Secure Complete Native Title 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 communities celebrated the conclusion of a decades-long battle on Friday when a Federal Court decision confirmed the validity of their native title application, which was officially submitted in 2015.

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.

In Mildura, representatives from the three groups came together for the determination, celebrating the successful resolution of their prolonged 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.”