Standing in Cunnamulla, Kunja woman Helen McLaughlin says she finally "feels whole", but it has taken most of her lifetime to piece together her identity.
Now in her 80s, as a child of the Stolen Generations she "knew nothing" about her heritage while growing up on a Mackay cattle station in the 1950s.
"It's taken me a very long time to catch up with my culture," Ms McLaughlin said.
The Federal Court this week recognised the native title rights and interests of the Kunja people over more than 23,452 hectares of land centred around Cunnamulla in south-west Queensland.
The native title claim, which includes parts of the Warrego River, was 26 years in the making.
It's particularly poignant for Ms McLaughlin who said any adopted child "whether they were white or black, were not allowed to know anything about their family".
By chance, Ms McLaughlin discovered who her mother was while flipping through a book while working in Darwin in the 1980s.
In another serendipitous encounter, a brother she never even knew about introduced himself in Woorabinda in the 1990s.
Just four years ago, she discovered she also had a sister through an online DNA test website.
Ms McLaughlin's mother and grandmother were Kunja elders removed from Cunnamulla by the government in 1927.
"Growing up separated from my culture, not really belonging to white society or Indigenous society, I felt very lost."
'It's taken a generation'
The Kunja native title claim was full of challenges.
"I honestly never thought it'd happen in my lifetime," traditional owner Maureen McKellar said.
"It's about recognition and it also gives us the right to negotiate."
Ms McKellar said the Kunja people are beginning to have a voice on council decisions, including a multi-million-dollar hot springs facility currently under construction.
Disputes within community
But not all Indigenous community members in the town of Cunnamulla are happy.
Kunja traditional owner Dean Howlett said several families were disappointed with the native title outcome.
"It's a dark day for the bloodline traditional Kunja people," he said.
While he also has recognised rights and interests under the native title ruling, Mr Howlett said his group felt sidelined in decision making.
Queensland South Native Title Service (QSNTS) said determining a claim can be difficult, but this decision was made after a thorough examination.
"Just like the country of Australia isn't unanimous on the way that things are, the same things happen in First Nations."
Mr Smith said the determination hearing was just the beginning of the Kunja people's journey on their traditional country.
The Federal Court also opened the door for a potential second native title claim over the Binya National Park, south of Cunnamulla, which is hoped will be by consent with the state government.
"When that's done then the next chapter is written," Mr Smith said.
