DJA Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta elder Graham Atkinson has been inducted into the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll, recognising a lifetime of struggle, campaigning and ultimately success.
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Mr Atkinson was the second person from the Bendigo region to receive the honour, joining fellow Dja Dja Wurrung elder Aunty Fay Carter.
The City of Greater Bendigo congratulated Mr Atkinson on the achievement at its Wednesday night meeting.
He said it was a "proud moment" to receive recognition for the work he has carried out over the years.
"It wasn't just an important recognition for me, but an honour for all people that I have associated with, not the least my family, friends and other people that have supported me on my journey," Mr Atkinson said.
"The most significant moment for me personally was the enactment of the Victorian Traditional Owners Act 2010 which I played a leading role in achieving."
Fifteen leading Indigenous people from across the state's many nations were included on the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll this year.
Their stories are included in educational information for school students and archived to become a permanent part of the Victoria's history.
Mr Atkinson was born in Echuca in 1948 and worked as an armament fitter in Vietnam aged 20.
He worked as a senior social worker, joining the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency.
In 1986, having become disillusioned with a lack of Indigenous representation in policy making, Mr Atkinson established Yuruga Enterprises, an Indigenous-run consultancy.
He helped to steer the land rights claim of the Yorta Yorta people in the Federal Court. Over many years, he helped broker and agreement between Traditional Owners and the Victorian Government, resulting in the Victorian Traditional Owners Act 2010.
Mr Atkinson said the Act could be a pioneering piece of legislation for land rights across Australia.
