Dancers, musicians and cultural leaders from Indigenous communities across Australia gathered in south west New South Wales and northern Victoria on the weekend, to celebrate the return of Mungo Man, Australia's oldest known human remains.

A ceremony returning the 42,000-year-old remains to the place they were found at Lake Mungo 42 years ago, was followed by a concert in Mildura, featuring performers from Indigenous communities across the country.

Three different Aboriginal groups have connections to the country attached to Lake Mungo; the Muthi Muthi, Nygiampa and Paakantji.

Michael Young, a Parrintyi, Paakantji man and member of the Aboriginal advisory group for Mungo Man's return, said the community was eager to share the celebration with other Indigenous people.

"This is about all Indigenous nations celebrating," he said.

"This is about that decolonisation that we need to instil in Australia and in future generations, so that we can become the custodians we were always meant to be."

Dancers from Murray Bridge perform a traditional dance at a concert celebrating the return of Mungo Man. ( ABC: Aimee Volkofsky )

'We'll dance his spirit back home'

Five Indigenous dance groups from different parts of the country came to perform, each representing a star in the southern cross, or the points of the compass.

From the north, the Yolngu nation from Galiwinku, Elcho Island and Nhulunbuy in the Norther Territory; from the south, the Tal-kin-jeri dancers from Murray Bridge South Australia; east came from Yarrabah in Queensland; and from the west, the Nyoongar nation and Whadjak from Western Australia.

The fifth star in the constellation of dance was the Barkindji dancers from the Mildura region.

Mawalan Marika, Yolngu Elder and dance leader, said his dancers came to pay their respects.

"I came all this way to show respect to this old man's remains, we have to do some special ceremony for this old man," he said.

Errol Neal (Mulla), leader of the Yarrabah dancers, said the return of Mungo man had wider implication for all of Australia.

"We feel that this is the start of a new era for us, in Aboriginal Australia and mainstream Australia," he said.

"It's time they embrace us Aboriginal people, the oldest living culture in the world.

"We're searching for an identity as a nation, we have that identity that's 40,000 years old and it's time for practical reconciliation, time to start listening to us Aboriginal people."

Barkindji dancers from the Mildura region dance at a concert celebrating the return of Mungo Man's remains to Lake Mungo. ( ABC: Aimee Volkofsky )

Ngarrindjeri man Uncle Moogy Sumner lead of the Tal-kin-jeri dancers, he said it was a memorable occasion for the younger dancers in his troupe.

"We'll dance his spirit back home," he said.

"Looking at the young kids involved in dancing at this occasion, they will remember this for the rest of their life, they'll tell their kids what they done on this day."

A grandfather's gift

It was an emotional time for musician Kutcher Edwards, a Yorta Yorta and Muthi Muthi man, he has seen elders pass on before realising the dream of bringing the Mungo remains back on to country.

"Mungo Man is my great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather," he said.

"I thank old grandfather for teaching the world how long we as Aboriginal people have been here on this continent we now call Australia," he said.

"But also for re-teaching Indigenous people about our connection to this place.

"We're always being denied the right to say we've been here since creation and now old grandfather proves that.

"Thoughts of him get me really emotional because I know he's here, he's sitting right beside me, and all our ancestors."

Archie Roach sings with local Indigenous musician Narkie (Ernie) Mitchell. ( ABC: Aimee Volkofsky )

Empowering a new generation

Musician Archie Roach said he was happy to be a part of celebrating the return of ancient remains, but that it was also an opportunity to look ahead to future generations.

"It's monumental to be able to bring this ancient man back to country where he belongs," he said.

"Hopefully it'll be able to empower young people to make them realise they are from the oldest living culture in the world, they belong to country, no matter how old they are.

"This is a part of all Australian's history, we have one of the oldest living cultures in the world and they can be part of that too."

Yarrabah dancers travelled from Queensland to perform in Mildura, celebrating the return of Mungo Man's remains. ( ABC: Aimee Volkofsky )

'We were called here'

Cousins Marilyn Cavanagh and Coleen McCormack made their way from Alice Springs for the occasion.

Ms Cavanagh, a Mpetyane woman, said she felt compelled to come.

"We were called here, all the people that are here now were called here," she said.

"Even though colonization has changed a lot of things, it's been over 200 years, but you can't get rid of spirit.

Sorry, this video has expired Mungo Man returned to ancestral home

"I think for the rest of Australia it's an awakening, its time now for us to read all the signs; we have to look after each other and the country and country will look after us."

Ms McCormack a Peltharre woman, said she was grateful for the invitation to join in on the event.

"It's a privilege to be able to come to this great moment in history," she said.

"To be able to join in with the Paakantji and Muthi Muthi and Nygiampa people, to join them in their celebration.

"It makes us all feel happy, to come as one to make this 42,000 year old man feel special, he's special anyway."