Esme Blamblett

"My name is Esme Bamblett, I am a Yorta Yorta woman from the Goulburn Valley area. My grandmother was a Yorta Yorta woman and my grandfather was a Wirrajeri man and when my grandfather died, my grandmother went back to Yorta Yorta country and myself and a lot of her children went back there. That's where I was reared up and that's where I've reared my children up...

"The native title decision when it was handed down in 1992 gave my people hope. We believe that for the first time in the history of relations in this country that we had an opportunity to have some mechanism for getting our land back...

"Unfortunately we've lost the case, it's before the High Court at the moment for another appeal. But it didn't give us what we wanted it to give. The appeal is going through at the moment and we don't know how we're going to get on with the appeal, but we do know this, that the struggle for landrights, for the Yorta Yorta people and other Aboriginal people around this country will never end until we gain justice."

This case is currently on appeal to the High Court and a decision is pending.

Read about the Yorta Yorta case

Access a video of the Yorta Yorta case

Fred Tanner

"My name is Fred Tanner, I am very proud of the my Arabuna decent, the history of my Ancestors and our Culture. The Mabo decision has given us, Aboriginal and Torres Trait Islander people hope that one day we will be able to legitimately call this place Australia, our land. It will be our land because our history, culture and heritage will be recognised.

"While some of our traditional ways of life have changed, it has not changed the stories that have been passed from generations to generations, these are the stories that describe who we are, where we come from and our links with our past. It is these that have continued to survive and enabled us to keep our pride, identity, culture and heritage alive.

"By seeking to have our Native Title rights and interests recognised under white fella law we will have our Stories, Songs and Dance etc given the respect that they deserve.

"Recognition that we as a people have always and continue to exist. "