The first official Widjabul Wia-bal Day has been recognised on the Northern Rivers this week.
The Lismore City Council on Tuesday announced the first Widjabul Wia-bal Day, to be acknowledged on the 19th December every year.
The official local event day isn’t the same as a public holiday in that employers aren’t obliged to pay workers extra entitlements.
Widjabul Wia-bal Day is a celebration of native title success in the Lismore local government area, achieved on 19th December 2022.
Last year’s Federal Court of Australia decision recognised the Widjabul Wia-bal traditional owners as holding native title rights and interests over around 11,700 hectares, with the Widjabul Wia-bal Gurrumbil Aboriginal Corporation the nominated responsible body.
Land and waters around Lismore included are bounded by Bagotville, Tuckean Nature Reserve and Tucki Tucki to the south; Bungabbee State Forest and Cawongla to the west; Nightcap National Park in the north; and Wollongbar and Alstonville in the east.
Native title also exists in the Byron Shire under responsibility of the Arakwal Corporation.
