Eddie Mabo of Mer island in the Torres Strait spent a decade seeking official recognition of his people's ownership of Mer and on 3 June 1992, the High Court of Australia agreed, rejecting the doctrine that Australia was terra nullius (land belonging to no-one) at the time of European settlement. Transcript 3849 | PM Transcripts This independence could be realized through greater roles for Indigenous landholders through business, land management and other opportunities. I was there as a young associate working for a judge, and saw the jubilation and relief of . Bonita 'Netta' Mabo: Eddie's wife and is a resourceful, supportive and loving woman. Read about our approach to external linking. They claimed that Murray Island (Mer) and surrounding islands and reefs had been continuously inhabited and exclusively possessed by the Meriam people . Mabo (film) - Wikipedia Volume 1 (227pp), Volume 2 (58pp). His mother died during childbirth and he was raised by his mother's brother, Benny Mabo . Two words showed something was wrong with the system, After centuries of Murdaugh rule in the Deep South, the family's power ends with a life sentence for murder, Flooding in southern Malaysia forces 40,000 people to flee homes, When Daniel picked up a dropped box on a busy road, he had no idea it would lead to the 'best present ever', Plans to redevelop 'eyesore' on prime riverside land fall apart as billionaires exit, Labor's pledge for mega koala park in south-west Sydney welcomed by conservation groups, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies aged 61. In my tribute to Rob, I mentioned how losing that fight for national land rights lit the fires for what was to become the fight for native title led by Eddie, with Rob being part of the leadership that negotiated the Native Title Act through the national parliament to give legislative effect to the High Court decision championed by Eddie. The lack of planning and support for native titleholders to economically develop their land was identified as one of the major failings of the native title system. In conversations with Commissioner Wilson and others, we are in the midst of developing what the next step in this process should look like and we will continue to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples such as yourselves in order to do this. The ongoing legacy of the Mabo decision - The Sydney Morning Herald Promoting Indigenous peoples right to development. Resting Place of Eddie Mabo. The new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, says there will be a referendum to enshrine a voice an Indigenous representative body in the Australian constitution. Tony Abbott thanks Eddie Mabo daughter 'Aunty Gail' for helping him For Indigenous peoples around the world, the Declaration has been a means by which they can free themselves from the shackles of colonialism and share equitably in the benefits of development.[8]. When I looked over the lives of these two great Australians I was struck by the similarities of their struggles and the qualities they each share. The golden house of is of culture and connection, of blood and dreaming, of time immemorial how the golden house of is collapses. During this time he enrolled as a student and studied teaching at the College of Advanced Education, which later amalgamated with JCU. Help your class to explore the life of Eddie Mabo with this engaging and educational biography-writing task. Several cabinet papers from the time of the Mabo decision reflect on its likely ramifications, including: The National Archives of Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, sea and community. "The rights he won in the High Court have been eroded away by government, courts and socio-economic pressure.". The issue of compensation for unfinished business was another key theme of the Roundtable. For 50 years this embassy has stood as a reminder that we are still here. "He became a driven man," says his friend and documentary maker, Trevor Graham. Others, mainly white opponents, regarded the judgement as a mistake. The Declaration incorporates four fundamental human rights principles that can be categorised as: However, the UN Declaration on the Right to Development has been a lesser-known cousin to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. What did Eddie Mabo say in his speech? - Stwnews.org As a nation, this is an improvement from fourth position just over ten years ago in 2003.[10]. In acknowledging the traditional rights of the Meriam people to their land, the court also held that native title existed for all Indigenous people. For many at JCU, the landmark legal decision has been rendered personal, as well as political and historic, because of Eddie's important association with JCU staff and students, and with our surrounding communities. When our world is ablaze with conflict. 2004 Presentation by Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO. British law under a British flag. He is hardworking and determined, but at the cost of his family life. Milosz wrote into the horror of the 20th century as he saw war all around him. Our News The courts had previously found that the Nguraritja had non-exclusive native title over certain parcels of land, but not over those where native title had already been extinguished. Born in 1936, Mabo started life like so many other indigenous people, deprived of a meaningful education, denied access to whites-only buses, cinemas, even toilets. [12] Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), preamble. And he knew truth. The judges satisfied themselves that Aboriginal people had been in Australia first, did have a long, rich culture that denoted civilisation and had voluminous evidence of land demarcation, usage and inheritance, to back up their claims of longevity and history. "The High Court, which is not elected by anybody, not accountable to anybody, had presumed to move into the legislative area to make a whole new law," he said. It's the anniversary of a court decision that recognized for . Here we are 30 years later, still on that journey. He knew about hope and he knew about justice. Unlike them, however, Mabo wasn't going to accept it. Justice Blackburn ruled Australia was indeed a "settled colony", that this was"desert and uncultivated". "For two centuries, the British and then white Australians operated under a fallacy, that somehow Aboriginal people did not exist or have land rights before the first settlers arrived in 1788.". This Declaration on the Right to Development was adopted by the General Assembly in 1986. Eddie Mabo wanted to change the law of Terra Nullius and claim the Aboriginal people as the original owners of the land this would change social and political views of the aboriginal people. But who was Eddie Mabo, why did he take up what must have seemed like a hopeless cause and what is the legacy of his campaign? That word is emblazoned still at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on the lawns of the Old Parliament House in Canberra. When the decision overturning Terra Nullius eventually came, the judges referred to the policy as "the darkest aspect of (our) national history" and one that left "a legacy of unutterable shame". As the Broome Roundtable highlighted, this remains one of the key unresolved issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their quest for ongoing economic development. Today I want to talk about how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can be the leaders to grasp new opportunities that will leave a legacy for generations to come. It was through his association with JCU humanities and education staff, Professor Henry Reynolds and Associate Professor Noel Loos, that Eddie became interested in who owned the land on which his people lived, and in Native Title. [1] J Altman., (2014) Scullion Peddles pipedream reforms, Journal of Indigenous Policy, At: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/JlIndigP/2014/33.pdf (viewed 5 June 2015). And in 1981, Eddie was invited by the same university to make a speech about Mer's land inheritance system. By continuing to use this site, you are giving us consent to do this. The most important revelation arising from Eddie Mabo's claim and the High Court's decision was that an ancient title connected to the traditional occupation of the land by Aboriginal and Islander people had survived the . Short for Mabo and others v Queensland (No 2) (1992), the Mabo case, led by Eddie Koiki Mabo, an activist for the 1967 Referendum, fought the legal concept that Australia and the Torres Strait Islands were not owned by Indigenous peoples because they did not 'use' the land in ways Europeans believed constituted some kind of legal possession. So today it is indeed an honour for both my people and myself to be presenting this year's Edward Koiki Mabo Lecture. Reynolds struck up a friendship with Eddie Mabo, who was then a groundsman and gardener at James Cook University. That is, how do we build on the underlying communal title to create options for our economic development? The remarkable life story of Eddie 'Koiki' Mabo; a Torres Strait Islander who left school at the age of 15, yet spearheaded the High Court challenge that overthrew the fiction of terra nullius. Eddie Mabo's heritage and culture were major influencers in his rise to prominence. On 3 June 1992, six of seven Australian High Court judges ruled: The Meriam people are entitled as against the whole world to possession, occupation, use and enjoyment of the lands of the Murray Islands [in Torres Strait]. Mabo 20 years on: did it change the nation? 23 Nov 1990 - 21 Oct 1994 Library at the University College of Townsville, Queensland. But the . At: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/property-rights-will-help-economic-development-of-indigenous-australians/story-e6frg6z6-1227365821530 (viewed 3 June 2015), [4] T Calma, Native Title Report 2005, Australian Human Rights Commission, 2005, p82. Meriam history and culture were crucial to the success of the Mabo case. He had refused to surrender his interests, or those of his people, to the domination of others. What is this Eddie Mabo Biography Worksheet? The next generation of native title issues are due to hit us shortly through processes such as litigation regarding ILUAs, variations to determinations and compensation proceedings.[2]. That is, after 20 years of operation, we finally saw the first time compensation had been awarded for the extinguishment of native title rights and interests under the Native Title Act. For the love of his family and tradition, he fights for his land on Murray Island. In a snapshot. 10. Eddie Mabo Case Study - 1556 Words | 123 Help Me In 2014, Australia ranked second after Norway, in the United Nations Human Development Index,[9] a position that would seem to indicate that we all enjoy a quality of life superior to most others in the world. During this time he enrolled as a student and studied teaching at the College of Advanced Education, which later amalgamated with JCU. This is our land. and in 2008 James Cook University named its Townsville campus library the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library. Yindyamarra is respect: It is quiet, it is humble. I believe that it is this framework that has the power to elevate the aspirations that we have as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in relation to land. Concocted by the early settlers, it was used, systematically, cynically and effectively to deprive the indigenous people of their own land. I want to begin by honouring and quoting the words of the now late chief justice of the High Court of Australia, Sir Gerard Brennan,the words he wrote in his lead judgement in the Mabo case: The common law itself took from Indigenous inhabitants any right to occupy their traditional land, exposed them to deprivation of the religious, cultural and economic sustenance which the land provides, vested the land effectively in the control of the imperial authorities without any right to compensation and made the Indigenous inhabitants intruders in their own homes and mendicants for a place to live. In his book Why Weren't We Told?, Reynolds describes the talks they had regarding Mabo's people's rights to their lands, on Murray Island, in the Torres Strait. Of invasion. Eddie Mabo, the man who changed Australia - BBC News Overwhelmingly, what participants told us at the Roundtable was that whilst there had been an expansion of the Indigenous estate since the commencement of the Native Title Act that it largely has not delivered sustainable outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Speech to the Native Title Conference celebrating the 20th - DSS There was scepticism, even cynicism, but I was able to report the story. JCU websites use cookies to enhance user experience, analyse site usage, and assist with outreach and enrolment. He immediately saw the injustice of it and from then on dedicated his life to reversing it. But he had to find words to speak a deeper truth even as he upheld the myth of terra nullius that Aboriginal people, he said, had a "subtle and elaborate system of law". (2012) This program was published 2 years ago. Words makaratta. When democracy is teetering and autocracy is rising. Mabo | Film Analysis, Summary, Themes & Characters Eddie's daughter, Gail Mabo remembers that day well. Tenacity, fearlessness, fearsome, tireless are some of the words that come to mind when the names Rob Riley and Eddie Mabo are mentioned. A lawyer heard the speech and asked . Despite the fact that the challenge of gaining native title is still a fight that many of us share, there has been a shift in focus now and we have started to see a gradual change in terms of ownership. Mabo: Life of an Island Man - Wikipedia Mabo Day is an official holiday in the Torres Shire, celebrated on 3 June. (2012 lecture transcript), 2011 Presentation by Mr Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. At: http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/table-1-human-development-index-and-its-components#a (viewed 9 June 2015). 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But that hasn't stopped indigenous people, like Queensland elder Douglas Bon, taking great satisfaction in the ruling. Eddie Koiki Mabo (c. 29 June 1936 - 21 January 1992 [1]) was an Australian man from the Torres Strait Islands known for his role in campaigning for Indigenous land rights and for his role in a landmark decision of the High Court of Australia which overturned the legal doctrine of terra nullius ("land belonging to nobody") which characterised But we know that these scales do not capture the social disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In 1979 Wiradjuri man and law student Paul Coewalked the path that Eddie Mabo would follow all the way to the High Court of Australia. Eddie Mabo was heartbroken and never forgave government authorities. There will be many words between now and then. We will adapt, we will take advantage of these opportunities and we will leave a great legacy. Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context. (2010 lecture transcript). Nor did the judges intend that it should. Transcript 9037 | PM Transcripts Biography - Edward Koiki (Eddie) Mabo - Indigenous Australia - ANU What is Mabo Day and why is it significant? - ABC News [1] It was brought by Eddie Mabo against the State of Queensland and decided on 3 June 1992. Mabo gained an education, became an activist for black rights and worked with his community to make sure Aboriginal children had their own schools. Strengthening our relationships over lands, territories and resources: the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Climate change from the perspective of the Torres Strait, Beyond Mabo: Native Title and closing the gap, People, identity and place. And that is the cost to both men and their families. This needs to change. Mabo decision | Australia's Defining Moments Digital Classroom Barrister Ron Castan, Eddie Mabo and barrister Bryan Keon-Cohen at . The legal decision was made by the High Court on 3 June 1992. I have previously spoken at length about the importance of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which contains 46 articles on the rights that Indigenous peoples all around the world hold. This will always be our land. Words like han. This case, I said thisman Mabo will change Australia. Eddie Koiki Mabo at Las, Murray Island, 1989 On 3 June 1992 the High Court of Australia recognised that a group of Torres Strait Islanders, led by Eddie Mabo, held ownership of Mer (Murray Island). Please join with me in acknowledging the life long accomplishments of Russell Taylor. Les Malezer, chairman of the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action, is critical of the native title system for its failure to deliver for indigenous people. B12 of 1982 in the High Court of Australia). That permission was denied. The justices spoke of a legacy of "unutterable shame"and that the dispossession of Indigenous people was the darkest aspect of Australia's history. It remains a collection of canvas and tin, but it has grown in those years since a handful of young Aboriginal activists planted a beach umbrella and wrote the word Embassy on a manila folder, to shake a fist at the power on the hill. They then said to tell you they are aware of your continued fight for your culture and your country and salute you for your ongoing struggle. Edward Koiki Mabo ( n Sambo; 29 June 1936 - 21 January 1992) was an Indigenous Australian man from the Torres Strait Islands known for his role in campaigning for Indigenous land rights in Australia, in particular the landmark decision of the High Court of Australia that recognised that indigenous rights to land had continued after the British Suggested answer: While working as a grounds keeper at James Cook University in Townsville, Eddie learnt about Australian land ownership laws. In some ways our systems of governance is a defining feature of the oldest living culture on this planet. Eddie Koiki Sambo was born on June 29, 1936 on the Torres Strait island of Mer, also known as Murray Island. Edward Koiki Mabo was born on 29 June 1936. The preamble to the Native Title Act makes it clear that the objectives of the legislation are to: rectify the consequences of past injustices by the special measures contained in the Act to ensure that Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders receive the full recognition and status within the Australian nation to which history, their prior rights and interests, and their rich and diverse culture, fully entitle them to aspire.[11]. In 1973 Mabo founded the Black Community School in Townsville, which was created to educate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and preserve traditional knowledge and practices. Rob was at the forefront of the fight for land in Western Australia, particularly at Nookanbah and when the WA Government led the resistance to national land rights legislation. This sovereignty is a spiritual notion: the ancestral tie between the land, or "mother nature", and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who were born therefrom, remain attached thereto, and must one day return thither to be united with our ancestors. Aunty Clara Ogleby, I begin by acknowledging and paying my respects to the Kuku Yalanji people, Traditional Owners of the place upon which we sit and talk today. Eddie Mabo and Gerard Brennan overturned the terra nullius policy and Mabo/The Man/Justice Moynihan's Findings Can I also acknowledge all you here today who have come together to work out how we can access our land, seas and waters easier and quicker, but who have also come to talk to each other about how we can make better use of our estates to make life a little better for the rest of our mob out there. That was Eddie Mabos gift. My predecessor Dr Tom Calma explained the impact of never implementing a social justice package in 2008: this abyss is one of the underlying reasons why the native title system is under the strain it is under today[5]. Mabo footage released for the first time - Jun 2020 - JCU Australia Elders saythe wateris now a battleground. More Information .We are closed in a box. Read about our approach to external linking. A culture and a people facing devastation. It is sadness beyond the word sadness itself. However, the social justice package, which was meant to address compensation for the dispossession of land and the dispersal of the Indigenous population remains unfulfilled.[4]. The man who had engineered the historic change of law, never lived to witness it himself. Across language itself. However, it also raised equally relevant issues around the many state and local government land taxes and rates that apply once conversion has taken place. These are the traditional lands and waters of the Meriam people, and the final resting place of Eddie Mabo in Las Village. The Keating government gave effect to the Mabo decision by introducing the Native Title Act 1993, which facilitated the process of recognising native title. He was right. From 1973-1983 he established and became director of the Black Community School in Townsville. This often presents internal issues for traditional owner groups about how decisions are made and how benefits will be shared and responsibilities exercised. At http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/reports/264/hdr_2003_en_complete.pdf (viewed 9 June 2015). His mother passed away shortly after his birth and he was adopted by his maternal Uncle and Aunt, Benny and Maiga Mabo in line with Islander . Eddie Koiki Mabo: A Meriam man, husband to Bonita Mabo and father to 10 children. The Mabo decision was named after Eddie Mabo, the My people are the Gangulu from the Dawson Valley in Central Queensland.