King Stingray are set to headline a concert in celebration of 50 years of the Northern Land Council.

It has been five decades since the inaugural meeting of the NLC's first Full Council in Darwin.

Northern Land Council Chair Dr Samuel Bush-Blanasi said it was a privilege to be in the position he is in 2023.

"We acknowledge 50 years since the inaugural meeting of the first NLC Full Council and commemorate the strong Aboriginal leaders who stepped forward to represent their communities and fight for their traditionally owned lands and seas," he said.

"This history and leadership continues to guide us as we walk towards the future."

For two days in 1973, 26 representatives from across the Top End met in Darwin to set the course of Aboriginal self-determination and land rights on 25-26 September.

"They fought hard for the recognition of our traditional law, culture and land rights," said Mr Bush-Blanasi.

"The history of Aboriginal land rights would look very different without the NLC and the achievements gained on the backs of the first Full Council."

Mr Bush-Blanasi said the NLC remains as necessary today as it was 50 years ago in the ongoing fight to recognise the land rights of Aboriginal people.

"It will only become more so over the next 50 years as we support Aboriginal people to protect, maintain and benefit from their land holdings," he said.

The celebration concert on 29 September will see performances from King Stingray, Mumbali, Wildfire Manwurrk, Wairuk Band and The Mystics, alongside cultural performances and historic images from the land rights movement and 50-year history of the NLC.

"Over the next few years we will mark other significant 50-year milestones – including the official incorporation of the NLC in 1974," said Mr Bush-Blanasi.

"The start of land claim hearings in 1975, and the passage of the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act in 1976 and its introduction in January 1977 – and will celebrate with events across our regions.

"We look forward to celebrating with our current elected representatives, our constituents, families and the general public at the free concert on Friday 29 September."

and Culture Centre in Katherine, December 2022. (Image: supplied Northern Land Council website)

Warning: the following may include names of people who have passed away.

The first Council attendees in 1973 (including representatives from the Tiwi Islands and Groote Eylandt who went on to form their own land councils) were: Chair, Silas Roberts – Maningrida; Deputy Chair, John Gwadbu – Goulburn Island; Secretary, Ruth Paul – Bagot; Dick Malwagu – Croker Island; Frank Gulamanamana – Kopanga; John Baya – Milingimbi; Stephen Bunbay Jnr – Galiwin'ku, Wali Wunungmurra – Yirrkala; Lindsay Joshua – Numbulwar; Douglas Daniels – Ngukurr; Silas Maralingura – Oenpelli; Victor Jackinimba (Hood) – Beswick; Felix Bunduk – Port Keats; Harry Wilson – Daly River; Harry Singh – Delissaville; Jack Isaac – Borroloola; Peter Parrmiripal – Mudginberri; Snowy Ponto – Roper Valley; Allan Young – Victoria River Downs; Jack Cotton – Brunette Downs; Captain Andrew – Bamyili; Harry Munkara – Bathurst Island; Billy Hetherington – Snake Bay; Albert Tipungwuti – Garden Point; Terry Meruyrwan – Angurugu; and Clancy Wurramaminyamanja – Umbakumba.

The NLC will also commemorate the occasion with an invitation-only ceremony at the original site at 9.30am Friday 29 September 2023, followed by the free public concert later that day at State Square, Parliament House Darwin.