Land won back
In the CLC region, which covers the the southern half of the Northern Territory, just under half of the land- 385,000 square kilometres - is Aboriginal land. Aboriginal land is private property owned under special freehold title. It is inalienable – it can’t be bought, acquired or forfeited.
Land is formally held by an Aboriginal Land Trust.
Aboriginal people have affinity with particular areas of land. Unlike the European view of land, most Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory gain their identity from their country, not someone else's land.
Unlike Western ideas of land, one 'block' can't be exchanged for another.
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta handback in 1985 was a landmark moment in Land Rights history, especially since it became the first time that Aboriginal people in central Australia would jointly manage their traditional lands with the commonwealth government through the Australian Parks and Wildlife Service.
Another significant point in Land Rights history is the saga over the Warramungu land claim. It was one of the longest and hardest-fought claims in the history of land rights with the ten year battle for recognition beginning in 1978. Court challenges from the NT Government meant the land claim wasn't heard until 1985.
Justice Michael Maurice recommended the return of a large part of the claim in July 1988 – ten years after the claim was lodged.
It was another three years before any part of the land was handed back and five years before most was returned.
Some stories from Land Rights News about the struggles by traditional owners to win back their land:
1999
July 1999 Central Mt Wedge title handed over
July 1999 Barrow Creek
1998
November 1998 Talking history: M Japangka at McClaren Creek
1996
July 1996 Western Desert claim settled
1995
October 1995 Central Mt Wedge back
October 1995 Mt Frederick repeat claim won
April 1995 Claim settlement speeds return of title
1994
November 1994 Western Desert repeat claim scheduled
November 1994 Simpson Desert to Eastern Arernte
August 1994 The Warumungu Land Claim
1993
December 1993 Luritja Land Fight wins Tempe Downs
August 1993 Spotted Tiger Bore on Harts Range returned
1992
October 1992 From the days of whips and guns now we have our land back
August 1992 McClaren Creek: ” the real heroes of Australia”
1991
December 1991 Wave Hill: From Little things big things grow
December 1991 FIVE TITLES AT FINKE
1990
February 1990 Wakaya Alywarre
February 1990 Mt Allen - NT withdraws action
1989
May 1989 NT Challenge on Mt Allen defeated
1988
November 1988 NT appeals Mt Allen title handover
September 1988 Chilla Well Victory to traditional owners
1987
March 1987 Warlpiri, Kukatja and Ngarti Land Claim
March 1987 Mt Barkly Land Claim
1986
November 1986 Daguragu station land claim
1985
October 1985 Uluru Kata Tjuta land Claim
1980
May 1980 Handback at Piccaninny Bore