The Prime Minister has witnessed the official signing of a landmark mining deal in Australia's Top End.
For the first time, a long term mining lease has been negotiated directly with traditional owners, rather than the government - but several clans who say they should have been consulted, claim they weren't.
The Northern Land Council and Rio Tinto Alcan have agreed to a 42 year mining lease.
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The agreement, which is subject to commercial confidentiality, secures the continued operation of the bauxite mine and alumina refinery in the Gove Peninsula, which has been operating without the permission of traditional owners since 1969.
Julia Gillard travelled to the remote community of Yirrkala, on the Gove Peninsula in east Arnhem Land for the celebrations.
Unity was today's theme but high on the agenda appears to be a referendum for constitutional change to recognise Aboriginal people.
"When the first Australians take their place in the first document of all Australians, it will be an uplifting, uniting moment for our nation, a day of great national pride, a day of shared respect.
"An opportunity to recognise, in the founding document of our nationhood, our shared pride in being Australian and our shared pride in Australia's continuing indigenous culture," she said.
The NLC has described the deal - delivered after four years of negotiations - as "righting past wrongs".
However, four clan groups, who say they are also traditional owners, boycotted the event.
They said they were not consulted by the federal government or the NLC about the continued operation and are threatening to take legal action.
Indigenous Affairs minister Jenny Macklin last week dismissed the concerns.
The NLC said that it consulted the right people, and Ms Macklin agreed, reported the ABC.
"Under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act it is the responsibility of the Northern Land Council to consult the relevant groups and I am satisfied they have done that," she said.
President and chief executive officer of Rio Tinto Alcan's bauxite and alumina operations, Pat Fiore, said a leaders' forum would be convened on a regular basis to share information between Gumatj, Rirratjingu and Galpu traditional owners, the NLC and Rio Tinto Alcan and to manage the implementation of the agreement.
