Ancient dances honouring those who paved the way for the future. Crowds gathered at Telegraph Station in Alice Springs this weekend to celebrate 50 years of the Central Land Council and half a century fighting for land rights and self-determination. “I think that's very good for the younger generation to understand what really happened in the past and now they can learn for the future generations. The land council held its first meetings in the mid-1970s in the remote community of Amoonguna. Back then it was only men but today women make up a third of the board. The council has since reclaimed more than 50 per cent of land in the region under the Aboriginal land rights act. “That’s one of the greatest achievement CLC has done during that time.” The weekend's celebrations featured traditional dances bands and singers. The event also included a discussion panel and truth-telling sessions. “The role of Central Land Council has changed in the post-land claim era. In recent decades, its community development programs have aimed to empower people to drive their own growth. Meanwhile an increasing number of ranger groups are training the next generation to care for country.” But many say the fight is far from over. “I hope in another half century that Aboriginal people are not as they are now, the poorest people in Australia. I hope that their birthright is translated into economic benefits, and that they benefit from land rights and from native title in a way that gives them a real economic footing in the country.” Celebrating the past, with a firm focus on the future