Yami Lester, who was left blind by the Maralinga atomic tests and went on to become a tireless campaigner for Aboriginal rights, has died aged 75.

Mr Lester, who died in Alice Springs on Friday night, was left blind as a young adolescent from the nuclear bomb tests in the 1950s, which he called the "black mist".

Yami Lester fought to gain recognition for the British atomic tests in South Australia in the 1950s, and an acknowledgement for the 1800 Aboriginal people affected. Credit:Philip Quirk

"Mr Lester was a key Aboriginal leader who embraced the challenge of bridging two worlds," NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said on Saturday.

"He never let his blindness hold him back; he was sharp as a tack in negotiating at the highest levels of business and government."