Native Title Research

Our research team is responsible for collecting, organising and presenting anthropological, historical and genealogical evidence relevant to native title claims in NSW and the ACT.

Most of the evidence relevant to native title is related to the social organisation and history of native title claimant groups. This means that the research team is concerned primarily with evidence that shows how a native title claimant group is made up of individuals and families, how these individuals and families are connected to the land they are claiming and the history of their connection to the land they are claiming.

The research team is made up of social anthropologists, historians and research assistants. Social anthropologists focus on social organisation and traditional land tenure associated with each native title claim, while historians focus on the origins of claimant groups and their presence and activity in claim areas over time. Our research assistants provide vital support throughout the unit in the collection and processing of information.