The Bundjalung Nation's Widjabul Wia-bal people have had their Native Title rights recognised by law.
After nearly a decade of litigation the Federal Court of Australia have formally recognised the claim, first filed in June of 2013.
The determination was handed down with the Federal Court convening before Justice Steven Rares in Lismore's eastern suburb of Goonellabah.
Native Title Service Provider (NTSCORP) chief executive Natalie Rotumah said it is a great achievement for the Widjabul Wia-bal to gain Native Title over the approximately 1,559.6 square kilometres of New South Wales' northern rivers district near Lismore.
"Widjabul Wia-bal have worked tirelessly to get their native title rights recognised and we are delighted to have assisted them to navigate their claim through the Court and negotiations with government," Ms Rotumah said.
"Today is a day of celebration, but we remember the Ancestors and Elders who are no longer with us.
"They gave the mob strength to continue the fight."
The judgement recognised various Native Title rights of the Widjabul Wia-bal after evidence presented to the state government and Court demonstrated the Widjabul Wia-bal peoples continuous and unbroken connection to their Country since colonisation.
The determination recognised Reginald King, June Gordon, Michael Ryan, Jim Speeding, Queenie Speeding, the late Murray John Roberts, Ashley Moran, Steven Roberts, Jenny Smith, and Lois Johnson as the Native Title claimant group.
Widjabul Wia-bal Elder and applicant Queenie Speeding said the determination was an important acknowledgement of the Widjabul Wia-bal peoples enduring connection to Country.
"It is the land that gives us our identity and I know when I'm on country," Ms Speeding said.
"Native title recognises our spiritual connection to the land and we belong to this place because of the Ancestors."
The Native Title judgement gives the Widjabul Wia-bal people the right to perform various cultural activities on their Country including hunting, fishing and gathering resources for personal use, engage in the protection of places of importance and share and exchange natural resources with nearby Native Title groups for personal, domestic, communal and cultural purposes.
Native Title holders have formed the Widjabul Wia-bal Gurrumbil Aboriginal Corporation to manage their rights and interests.
Widjabul Wia-bal Gurrumbil Aboriginal Corporation director Jenny Smith said Widjabul Wia-bal people will benefit from the determination in many ways.
"To have this recognition brings a new era of working collaboratively and harmoniously with the wider Australian community and to also maintain and teach our culture and practices," Ms Smith said.
"Through our corporation we now have avenues for self-determination and financial sustainability that not only benefits us a group but as a partner for the economic growth of this region."
"And importantly, our corporation has exclusive rights for cultural heritage to ensure our sites of significance are protected in the determination area."
The determination is the 18th in New South Wales and seventh within the Bundjalung Nation.
