Anaiwan man Dave Widders admits to feeling a little like "the Black Superman".
A little invincible, and very proud, he and his community have pulled off a remarkable victory against the odds.
"We own this beautiful Country - it gives me so much pride in saying that," he told NITV's The Point program.
"It's been uplifting, empowering and I'm already a proud blackfella, but this has made me the Black Superman. I love it."
The Anaiwan community launched a crowdfunding campaign in January to buy back a large block of the Country on the outskirts of Armidale, in the Northern Tablelands.
The Anaiwan community have bought the block of land in the NSW northern Tablelands after a crowdfunding campaign. Source: NITV The Point
Within six weeks, they'd raised $370,000. There was a surprising spike in donations on January 26.
We even had some pounds - we thought it was Queen Elizabeth but it wasn't a big bucket of money.
"That day alone brought in 70 to 80 thousand dollars, in just one day," Mr Widders says.
"The smallest was a three dollar donation. Our biggest was $30,000, and everything in between.
"We even had some pounds - we thought it was Queen Elizabeth but it wasn't a big bucket of money.
"It all added up, every cent counted. And it gave me faith, hope. Australia Day divides our country, it creates a lot of division.
"But that day for us - a lot of good people out there really wanted to see this happen."
Anaiwan Elder Steve Widders says the crowdfunding campaign has been a great success. Source: NITV The Point
An alternative model
Uncle Steven Widders was a little reluctant at first about the idea, but it exceeded all expectations.
"To include Australia Day was a very important part of this strategy. It really opened the minds and the hearts - and the wallets - of some people."
In the future, he’d like to see diversionary programs run on the block to help local kids connect to Country.
“I think the more removed a person is from their culture, the more likely they are to offend and to get off track," he says.
"But if we revive culture and welcome everyone to come and learn and do things, to contribute, as a community, as our ancestors used to do for thousands of years...
"That’s what made them strong, that’s what made them resilient, that’s what made them survive."
Callum Clayton Dixon was instrumental in running the campaign.
He hopes it could be a template for other First Nations communities.
"This is a bit of an alternative model, or route, for mob to take to get land back, in a much more secure, efficient and effective way than going through those really red tape, bureaucracy-heavy, conflict-ridden processes," he says.
"We managed to secure close to 600 acres, nearly 240 hectares within five to six weeks. Compare that to 10 to15 to 20 years for a Native Title claim, which may or may not even go through."
Anaiwan man Dave Widders says he gets goosebumps thinking about the land the community recently bought after a crowdfunding campaign. Source: NITV The Point
Cray fishing on Country
Dave Widders took a group of young Anaiwan children to the site on the weekend, teaching them some early lessons about cray fishing and Country.
Previously, the community had to get permission to access Country.
"We had to get permission off white fellas to teach language and cultural stuff and that was frustrating," he says.
"It gives us a real sense of belonging here. It's our heritage. It's our identity, our pride, our history. And it's ours."
For more on this story tune into NITV's flagship current affairs program The Point, on SBS on Demand.
