It was more than 30 years ago when a landmark legal case, brought about by Eddie Koiki Mabo and fellow Mer Islanders, recognised the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to their lands.
A centre being launched in Perth on Tuesday will continue the forefather of native title's legacy, which began in 1982 when the group lodged their legal claim in the High Court for ownership of their lands.
The Mabo Centre, to be housed on the University of Melbourne grounds in Victoria, will focus on advancing First Nations leadership and improving economic outcomes for communities through land and sea rights.
Dr Mabo's family gifted the centre his name, with his daughter Gail Mabo saying the centre will continue the fight for justice.
"Through winning the case, Dad gave the right for all First Australians to celebrate those things we hold most dear to us," she said.
"To bring back our voices. To bring back our culture. To bring back strength to the proud people that we are."
Mabo Centre co-chair Jamie Lowe said Dr Mabo's contributions left an enduring influence in Australia, inspiring generations of Indigenous activists in their fight for rights to Country.
"The Mabo decision was handed down 33 years ago, starting the recognition of native title in law," the Gundjitmara and Djabwurrung man said.
"However as Traditional Owners, we have known for over 65,000 years that we have rights to Country.
"It's time that native title met the needs of Traditional Owners and can continue to do so for generations."
The Mabo Centre will be established under a partnership between the National Native Title Council and the University of Melbourne.
It was conceived following a long process of consultation about the challenges and barriers to self-determination and economic prosperity through land and sea rights, co-chair Marcia Langton said.
"It is time for a new mechanism to consider the impact of land and resource use and extraction from our lands within a rights framework," she said.
The First Nations-led partnership will be guided by an advisory board, with Mr Lowe, Professor Langton and University of Melbourne Dean of Business and Economics Paul Kofman as co-chairs, and Larrakia, Wadjigan and Central Arrente lawyer Eddie Cubillo as director.
Professor Cubillo said the Mabo Centre will support First Nations governance, and provide the policy base to enable agreement making, aiming for justice for Indigenous people.
"Justice is about much more than the law and rectification of wrongs," he said.
"It is about provision of knowledge and opportunities to make change."
