Move for more native title claims

The meeting is expected to signal a second attempt at claming rights to ancestral land in the area a spokesperson for the Wellington Valley Wiradjuri said.

“This is a move for the betterment of Aboriginal people who have blood links to the families, and people who aren’t part of the group won’t be allowed into the meeting,” a spokesperson said.

“If a property has native title interest we maybe be able to stop mines and other development which do damage to traditional land,” the spokesperson said.

An earlier claim was made in February of last year.

Traditional owner Dot Stewart, who now lives in Dubbo,  believes the list of traditional owners in a local newspaper advertisement is not correct. 

She said the area claimed was too large and should not include Mudgee which belonged to another Wiradjuri clan. 

She added that no one should be excluded from attending the meeting.

The group setting up the claim hopes to use any monies received from the claims to fund a Wiradjuri Cultural Centre which was presented to council in December.

Project organiser Jody Chester told a council meeting the Cultural Centre was all about hope.

“It’s a dream, it’s a vision, we have to negotiate with council, the community and our community,” she told councillors.

“It is time to bring us all together to share, this is a passion of mine. It will be a place of healing to empowerment for our people to give them pride and cultural identity.”