Young leaders have been called upon to “keep our fire burning” as one of the country’s largest Aboriginal land councils celebrates five decades of fierce advocacy for land rights.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article may contain images and names of people who have died.

Thousands gathered at Alice Springs’ Telegraph Station on Saturday to mark 50 years of the Central Land Council, which today has 90 elected members representing more than 24,000 people in remote Central Australia.

CLC chair and Warlpiri man Warren Williams said the celebrations showed “the fire in our bellies still burns brightly, half a century on”.

“It’s very emotional because we get to remember some of our past delegates that have paved the way,” he said.

“There’s a lot of great achievements that have happened during [CLC’s history], getting our land rights back, our homes … people living on those homelands.

“50 per cent of the land that we’ve claimed is under [the] Land Rights Act, we’re still looking at some more.”

The CLC’s beginnings trace back to 1974, when elected leaders from around Central Australia gathered in Amoonguna, a community 15 kilometres south-east of Alice Springs.

Two years later the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act 1976 was established, which paved the way for the newly-formed council to claim back and manage traditional lands.

Senior First Nations academic Marcia Langton, who spoke at Saturday’s event alongside former CLC director and former WA Senator Pat Dodson, said it was “the first time in Australian history” Aboriginal land rights were genuinely recognised.

“[The Act] still today represents the highest point of recognition of Aboriginal rights in land,” she said.

Ms Langton, during her five years as an anthropologist for the CLC in the 80s, consulted with traditional owners to develop land claim documents and lodge those with the federal court.

“I wanted every land claim to win. I think in my time we lost one, I think I worked on about 20,” she said.

“People’s understanding of their country, their knowledge of their country and their ability to give evidence in compliance with the Land Rights Act criteria for traditional owners was just astonishing … one of the great experiences of my life.

“In the nation’s history, [the land council is] a profoundly important institution.”

The celebrations on Saturday featured traditional dances, bands and singers, with crowds gathering from communities across the NT’s south to warmly support the performers.

A number of council stalwarts were also honoured throughout the day, and two truth-telling sessions were held.

One was a women-only event on the banks of the Todd River remembering the 1990s protests against plans to build a flood mitigation dam, which traditional owners say would have destroyed a sacred women’s site.

Many community members said the highlight of Saturday’s event was seeing young children take part in traditional dances.

“They learning the little kids as well for the women’s dancing, so they can grow up and continue dancing around their kids,” Arrernte traditional owner Phyllis Stevens said.

“The young generation will carry on the dances and stories and songs … keep the country strong and the land,” Annette Williams said.

Next generation to forge the CLC’s future

Mr Williams, who was elected as chair last month, said he would like to see young people step into council leadership roles and help the CLC “expand”.

He also said he’d like to see more women standing for the CLC ahead of the next council elections in April 2025.

“In that time [the CLC was formed] it was all men … it changed dramatically when women come on board,” he said.

“We [now have] about a third women on the CLC board.”

While the event was alcohol-free, organisers said they were disappointed their requests for local takeaway outlets and bottle shops to close on Friday and Saturday went largely unanswered.

Lhere Artepe was the only business to heed the calls, with the Aboriginal Corporation closing its three IGAs on Saturday.

“I commend Lhere Artepe for leading by example and urge others to show some responsibility and follow suit,” Mr Williams said ahead of the event.

An ABC news story.