NATIVE TITLE GRANTED FOR MIDDAMIA TRADITIONAL OWNERS

Middamia Traditional Owner Thomas Dodd (Credit:YMAC)

BY ASAD KHAN AND CASSANDRA ARIUU

The Federal Court reached a Native Title determination this week in favour of the Middamia people over an area in the remote Gascoyne.

It came after a 30-year legal struggle for Middamia families to be recognised as Traditional Owners of the land that sits between the Gnulli and Thudgari determination areas.

Many Elders from the claimant group have passed on during that time.

“My siblings are not with us on our special day,” said Middamia Traditional Owner Thomas Dodd.

Mr Dodd said he was proud of the outcome.

“We gathered on country, rightful country, that belongs to not only me, but to my next generation and the generation after,” he said.

Justice Stephen Burley presided over the Determination and highlighted the claimants’ connection to Country.

“Members of each claimant family place connections and belonging to Middamia through parental or grandparental and bilateral affiliation, ultimately going back through the generations as descendants from a Middamia apical ancestor,” he said.

Listen to Thomas Dodd speak to Ngaarda Media’s Cassandra Ariuu: