A version of this paper was presented at the ‘Effects of Native Title Workshop’, Old Canberra House, The Australian National University, Canberra, November 1-2, 2005. Special thanks go to the organising committee of CAEPR and the financial support of AIATSIS and CAEPR to run the two day seminar. Special thanks also go to Professor Mick Dodson of the National Centre for Indigenous Studies for his support in allowing me to attend the workshop, to Dr Benjamin Smith for inviting me, to Professor Peter Read (a true warrior in the struggle for equity and peace for Aboriginal people), to the staff of CAEPR (particularly Professor Jon Altman for his inspiration and support), to various Federal and State Members of Parliament, local Mayors and Local Government staff, together with a long list of historians, anthropologists and archaeologists; in addition to staff within museums and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for their moral support in a battle that seems to have no ending (their privacy is maintained due to their fears of recrimination), and the Indigenous inhabitants of the Northern Suburbs of our land, especially Ms Susan Moylan-Coombs for her untiring support. Di-goori goor to my Guringah family for their voice and prayers, and to the various church leaders and their congregations of the Northern suburbs for their spiritual support in this struggle.

I would like to thank participants at the workshop for their helpful feedback as it surprised me to learn that our people were not the only ones who were being denied their heritage by other Indigenous usurpers who were in control of the very organisations that were set up to protect our culture.

My special thanks also go to Jill Barnes for her editorial eye and untiring enthusiasm while reading and commenting on my work.