A prominent Aboriginal leader has announced plans to sue the Commonwealth Government for compensation over mining on the Gove Peninsula.

It has been over 50 years since Aboriginal leader Galarrwuy ­Yunupingu’s father launched similar legal action.

The multi-million dollar native title claim could see the Commonwealth sued for royalties received from Swiss miner Nabalco since the 1960s and the large Northern Territory bauxite mine's current owner Rio Tinto.

It comes after a landmark $2.5 million NT Timber Creek native title case earlier this year put a price on intangible harm caused by disconnection with country.

“I will be fighting for the land rights case, in which the mining company have come to the Gove Peninsula without asking properly of the landowners of the place,” 71-year-old Dr Yunupingu announced at the Garma festival on his people's land on Saturday.

“They have all come, getting the OK from the Prime Minister and government of the country to come all the way over and started digging and insulting the country.

“These two companies have ripped some land unmercifully, damaged our country without seeking advice to us.

“They have damaged a whole lot of dreamings that were important to Aboriginal people through land claims and land rights.”

Dr Yunupingu was an interpreter for his father Munggurrawuy in the Gove Land Rights case - the first native title litigation in Australia.

At that time, the judge ruled the land in question was not settled and was instead uncultivated.

Dr Yunupingu’s address at this year’s Garma festival was made in front of two bark paintings depicting the claims, including loss of animals and water.

The paintings will be brought to court, just like the original Yirrkala bark petitions Dr Yunupingu helped draft with his father in 1963.

The Gumatj people currently operate the first indigenous-owned mine at Gulkula, near the Garma festival, which sells bauxite to Rio Tinto.