Matilda Williams House was born in 1945 on the Erambie Aboriginal Reserve at Cowra, New South Wales (NSW), and raised in her grandfather’s house at Hollywood Aboriginal Reserve in Yass, NSW.
House identifies as belonging to the Ngambri-Ngunnawal family group[1] (also referred to as Ngambri-Ngunnuwal family group),[3] which has been formally recognised by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government as having historical connections to the Canberra region and surrounds, particularly the region around Namadgi National Park.
[4] There remains a dispute over who 'rights to country' belong to in the ACT,[5][6][7][8] with the ACT Government issuing formal protocols regarding recognition of the traditional owners of the land on which Canberra is located, in response to a request from the United Ngunnawal Elders Council.
[14] House's involvement in Indigenous Affairs led to her delivering the welcome at Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation's ‘Sea of Hands’ installation,[15] and contributing to the 'Bringing Them Home' report into the Stolen Generations.
[14] House was named Canberra Citizen of the Year by ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope MLA in 2006.