“Reconciliation: let’s see it through” is the call from Reconciliation Australia for this year’s National Reconciliation Week celebrations, to run from 27 May to 3 June.

National Native Title Tribunal President Graeme Neate said the Tribunal supported the aspiration to ‘see it through’ in its work to facilitate timely and effective native title and related outcomes.

“National Reconciliation Week has a direct link to the foundations of native title in Australia,” Mr Neate said.

It concludes on Mabo Day, on 3 June, the anniversary of the High Court of Australia’s historic 1992 judgment in the Mabo native title case.

“That judgment recognised Indigenous peoples’ rights to their traditional lands under their traditional laws and customs, and provided the impetus for the Native Title Act,” Mr Neate said.

The Act has operated since 1994 and gives Indigenous people in many parts of Australia the opportunity to have their native title rights and interests recognised.

“Native title processes make a significant contribution to reconciliation,” Mr Neate said.

“Relationships are developed between diverse groups of people who come together because they have interests in particular areas of land or waters. By recognising and respecting each other’s rights and interests, they reach agreements and then make those agreements work well into the future.”

Native title outcomes show how a commitment to ‘see it through’ has been realised—since the Act began operating 129 determinations of native title (many of them by agreement) and 430 indigenous land use agreements have been registered with the Tribunal.

“National Reconciliation Week reminds us of the positive role of the native title process in reconciliation. We look forward to meeting many more challenges ahead, including ensuring that parties ‘see it through’ long after the ink is dry on their agreements,” Mr Neate said.

Use the links on this page to find out more about National Reconciliation Week.