In Torres Strait Islands called the Mabo case, for Eddie Mabo, the first-named plaintiff) brought by several individuals that was won in the High Court of Australia in 1992; subsequent cases were also settled in favour of other groups of islanders. Yindyamarra is respect: It is quiet, it is humble. Without this foundation, there would be no opportunity for us to access these rights through this unique form of land tenure. Mabo expressed disbelief and shock. To Eddie Koiki Mabo and chief justice Sir Gerard Brennan. Promoting Indigenous peoples right to development. 2008 Presentation by The Hon. Here we are 30 years later, still on that journey. He married Bonita, his teenage sweetheart and with whom he had 10 children in a loving partnership that lasted 30 years. Others, mainly white opponents, regarded the judgement as a mistake. HOST: Today is Mabo Day. At the 1981 James Cook University Land Rights Conference Eddie Mabo made a passionate speech about land ownership and ancestral inheritance in the Murray Islands. Thank you Russell for your kind words of introduction. In New South Wales, the most populous state, Aboriginal people have title over only 0.1% of the land. However, whilst the right to development is about improvements in economic and material outcomes, it is also about our rights as Indigenous peoples to self-determination and our rights to control our natural wealth and resources. I want to give two words from my people, Wiradjuri. But the . However the Federal Court found that the South Australian government were liable for an undisclosed amount to the Nguraritja people for parcels of land over which, but for the prior extinguishing acts of government, they would have held native title. "If ever a system could be called a government of laws," he said, "it is shown in the evidence before me.". 23 Nov 1990 - 21 Oct 1994 Library at the University College of Townsville, Queensland. It is this issue of development that I will explore later in greater detail. There were three key components to this: As you will know, the first two of these three components have been implemented, with varying degrees of success and impact on our communities over the years. Today in the midst of winter there is still smoke from a campfire, framing a word spelled out on the lawn: Sovereignty. I stand here proud to bring a message from my Elders. The issue of compensation for unfinished business was another key theme of the Roundtable. (2011 lecture transcript), 2010 Presentation by Professor Chris Sarra. Vincent Lingiari and men and women of the Gurindji people. Mabo v Queensland (No 1) was heard in 1986and 1988. These often hamper the development and economic aspirations of the communities involved right from the start. Nor did the judges intend that it should. But 20 years after the judgement, there's still a debate among constitutionalists, lawyers and politicians about the legacy of Mabo. Justice Blackburn ruled Australia was indeed a "settled colony", that this was"desert and uncultivated". Our people know han. 2019. Leeanne Enoch MP, Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Science and Innovation. I'd also like to thank AIATSIS for the invitation to speak today and in doing that can I congratulate you Russell on receiving your recent Member of the Order of Australia award. 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. He is hardworking and determined, but at the cost of his family life. The fall of the golden house of is but not the end. Truth. Together yindyamarra winanghanha means to live with respect in a world worth living in. Love, kindness, forgiveness; always love. Top 10 Amazing Facts about Eddie Mabo - Discover Walks Blog In 1981, Eddie Mabo made a speech at James Cook University in Queensland, where he explained his people's beliefs about the ownership and inheritance of land on Mer. The court dismissed his challenge to Australian sovereignty, but in his opinion Justice Lionel Murphy rattled the bones of the Australian settlement. " Eddie Mabo knew about love too. 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? On 3 June 1992, six of the seven High Court judges upheld the claim and ruled that the lands of . These legal challenges continued into the 20th century rulings maintained the legitimacy of the Crown but could not extinguish completely the Aboriginal claims. 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. There will be many words between now and then. He knew about suffering. We acknowledge Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islander People as the first inhabitants of the nation, and acknowledge Traditional Custodians of the Australian lands where our staff and students live, learn and work. [1] It was brought by Eddie Mabo against the State of Queensland and decided on 3 June 1992. Words like han. In 2008, a library at James Cook University was named after him. It clearly did not, for instance, lead to vast numbers of white Australians being forced from their homes, businesses, mines or farms. Eddie Mabo - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help We did not end. Some went further, fuelling the hysteria with unsubstantiated claims - Jeff Kennett, then the premier of Victoria, said suburban backyards could be at risk of takeover by Aboriginal people. Mabo/Mer Can I be indulgent and add a couple of others. I like how the words create a rhythm. Australian PM makes historic visit to Mabo's grave - BBC News 2. Financing economic development within the Indigenous estate. active, free and meaningful participation in development; self-determination and full sovereignty over natural wealth and resources. These are the traditional lands and waters of the Meriam people, and the final resting place of Eddie Mabo in Las Village. - Behind the News Behind the News 133K subscribers Subscribe 483 106K views 3 years ago Mabo Day on June 3rd, celebrates. 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. These barriers all prevent us from using our land to enter into the economy from which we can see ourselves and our communities thrive. He was another victim of Terra Nullius, like so many of his fellow indigenous people had been before him. 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. In 1959, he moved to mainland Queensland, working on pearling vessels and as a labourer. Others, while acknowledging the shortcomings of Mabo's long-term legacy, still regard it as a watershed moment in Australian political, cultural and economic life. Eddie Koiki Mabo | AIATSIS The High Court is the highest court in Australia's judicial system. But it was a bittersweet moment for the indigenous population. 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. That is the view most widely endorsed by history. Eddie Mabo, the man who changed Australia - BBC News Indigenous Speeches: Exploration of the Mabo Case, Stolen | Bartleby Eddie Mabo Land Rights - 422 Words | Cram Eddie Mabo - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia In 1981, Eddie Mabo delivered a speech at James Cook University in Queensland, where he challenged the widely accepted belief of ownership and inheritance of land on Murray Island. On 3 June 1992 the High Court of Australia ruled that a group of Torres Strait Islander people, led by Eddie Mabo, owned the island of Mer (Murray Island). The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Mabo made a speech to the audience where he explained the indigenous customary land inheritance system on Murray Island. (2014 lecture transcript), 2013 Presentation by Dr Bryan Keon-Cohen QC. Eddie Koiki Mabo was an advocate of the 1967 Referendum, fighting for equal rights including education. Eddie Mabo Case Study - 1556 Words | 123 Help Me At http://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/native-title-report-2008 (viewed 5 June 2015). It does not create any new rights, but rather reaffirms the rights that exist in many other international treaties and conventions. The Mabo decision was a legal case held in 1992. It is clear that we have seen a change in momentum as far as this space is concerned. This needs to change. We know sadness. From 1973-1983 he established and became director of the Black Community School in Townsville. Eternal. Born in 1936, he grew up in the village of Las on the north bend of Mer Island. He was a Meriam man and grew up on Mer, part of the Murray Island Group in the Torres Strait. Bibliography - History bibliographies - Cite This For Me You and I know all too well that we live shorter, poorer lives than our non-Aboriginal counterparts. A documentary, Mabo: Life of an Island Man, directed by Trevor Graham, was released in 1997 and received the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Documentary. The Mabo case Records relating to the Mabo case About Eddie Mabo Edward Koiki Mabo was born on 29 June 1936. There was scepticism, even cynicism, but I was able to report the story. Legacy of Eddie Mabo. Another key challenge that came out of the roundtable was the need to improve the capacity of our mobs to have the necessary advocacy; governance and risk management skills to successful engage in business and manage our estates in order to secure the best possible outcomes for our communities. No transcript available, 2016 Lecture Presentation by Professor N M Nakata, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Indigenous Education and Strategy, James Cook University (Transcript), 2016 Lecture Presentation by Professor N M Nakata, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Indigenous Education and Strategy, James Cook University (2016 Lecture Transcript), 2015 Presentation by The Hon. This is an edited extract of the 2022 Mabo Lecture, delivered by Stan Grant on June 3, 2022, to commemorate 30 years since the Mabo decision. That word is emblazoned still at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on the lawns of the Old Parliament House in Canberra. The Roundtable was held after there was significant interest on this issue when Commissioner Wilson and I undertook some consultations around the country last year. Eddie Mabo - Wikipedia The Mabo Case | AIATSIS They ruled that the Mabo decision in no way challenges the legality of non-Aboriginal land tenure. The Mabo verdict was arguably the most significant court ruling in the history of Indigenous Australia, overturning the concept of terra nullius and paving the way for native title. It is clear that the current system has not delivered what had initially been intended to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The conference, 'Land Rights and the Future of Australian Race Relations', was sponsored by the Townsville Treaty Committee and the James Cook University's Student Union. [1] Cast [ edit] Jimi Bani as Eddie Mabo Gedor Zaro as Young Eddie Deborah Mailman as Bonita Mabo (ne Neehow) 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]. Gail, to your Mum Bonita, to Eddie Junior, Wannee, Bethal, Celuia, Ezra, Mario, Malita, Malcolm, Jessie and to you Gail, can I pay special tribute to for the generosity of you all in giving your husband and Dad to us. PDF 3 June: a significant date - Reconciliation Australia Realising these aspirations, is key to our economic development and prosperity as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples where our land is our ultimate asset. Eddie Mabo had challenged the very ideological establishment of Australia and the first Australians. Uncle Eddie 'Koiki' Mabo. 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. Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture Series. The ongoing legacy of the Mabo decision - The Sydney Morning Herald Speech to the Native Title Conference celebrating the 20th - DSS 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". They reflect the period in which they were created and are not the views of the National Archives. He knew about suffering. He knew about hope and he knew about justice. De Rose Hill is a landmark case because it represents a significant moment in time in the native title space. This landmark decision led to the Australian Government introducing native title . On Monday, he laid a wreath on Mr Mabo's grave on Mer Island. Mabo footage released for the first time - Jun 2020 - JCU Australia Australia owes you a great debt. Mabo and others: products or agents of progress? 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. Mabo's love for his homeland drove the proud Torres Strait Islander to undertake a 10- year legal battle that rewrote Australia's history. 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]. 2017 presentation by Professor Megan Davis, Pro Vice Chancellor Indigenous, University of New South Wales. Suggested answer: While working as a grounds keeper at James Cook University in Townsville, Eddie learnt about Australian land ownership laws. Mabo was a Torres Strait islander from Mer (Murray Island), off Australia's north-east coast. Mabo vs QLD - Stories from the Archives The truth: This was his land. The words are carefully chosen to sit alongside each other withjust the right length and the right tone, each one setting up the other and chosen for both meaning and music. In May 1982, Eddie Mabo and four other Meriam people of the Murray Islands in the Torres Strait began action in the High Court of Australia seeking confirmation of their traditional land rights. Judged by any civilised standard, such a law is unjust ". Meriam history and culture were crucial to the success of the Mabo case. What Exactly Is 'Mabo Day' And Why Is June 3 Such An - ELLE [6] UN Declaration on the Right to Development, Article 1, para 1. In the Shire of . Mabo Day & Native Title: Who was Eddie Mabo & what is his legacy? The truth: This was his land. [10] UN Development Programme, Human Development Index, UN Human Development Report, p237. [1] And that shift is the move to the next emerging challenge; how do we maximise these rights to their full potential, now that we have our native title recognized? It is a feeling. This is yet another reason why a development approach is so urgently needed. The significance of Mabo Day - ABC Education A case was made, and took 10 years to reach a decision. Whilst the case did little to clarify the legal principles around calculating compensation, it is one example of the positive realization after many years, of the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to land and waters within the native title system. So today it is indeed an honour for both my people and myself to be presenting this year's Edward Koiki Mabo Lecture. The Roundtable included a diverse range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with nearly 50 people in total from as far and wide as the Torres Straits, the Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York, Sydney, the Kimberley and Darwin. Unlike them, however, Mabo wasn't going to accept it. Mabo : Working with Indigenous Australians We will adapt, we will take advantage of these opportunities and we will leave a great legacy. A human rights based approach has been a key part of advocacy of all Social Justice Commissioners. On 21 May 2008, James Cook University named its Townsville campus library the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library. Commemorating Mabo Day - Reconciliation Australia Rejected at each turn. For the love of his family and tradition, he fights for his land on Murray Island. Eddie Mabo's legal pursuit of these issues resulted in one of the most significant legal cases in Australian history, in that it completely overturned the idea of terra nullius (land belonging to no-one) and challenged traditionally held beliefs about how Australia came into being, and about ownership of land. From 1973-1983 he established and became director of the Black Community School in Townsville. The memory of wounds. More Information .We are closed in a box. 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 Castle: Cheat Sheet | Movie News | SBS Movies He's recorded as saying: "No way, it's not theirs, it's ours." But he was wrong. But despite the success of the '67 campaign, in 1972 Eddie Mabo still had to get permission from the Queensland authorities to visit his dying father on Mer Island. Eddie Mabo Speech Essay - studyscroll.com And in some cases native title had become a millstone, almost drowning people in a sea of regulation, red tape and process without any semblance of necessary support. The victory was largely down to one indigenous man called Eddie Mabo. Finally, the remaining key theme of the meeting was the issue of our right as Indigenous peoples to development. "Koiki was ambitious for himself and for his people.". Tenacity, fearlessness, fearsome, tireless are some of the words that come to mind when the names Rob Riley and Eddie Mabo are mentioned. This will always be our land. We are still trying to find the words to equal the full measure of Eddie Mabo's devotion. 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. 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". This was not empty land. 2009 Presentation by Professor Ross Garnaut, Vice-Chancellor's Fellow and Professorial Fellow in Economics, The University of Melbourne, and Distinguished Professor, The Australian University. JCU websites use cookies to enhance user experience, analyse site usage, and assist with outreach and enrolment. Across language itself. Typical of such awards, the citations are generally understated and this is particularly so in your case. I like words. The practical effects of Mabo have, indeed, been mixed, judging by figures from the Koori Mail, a national indigenous-owned newspaper. And that is the cost to both men and their families. "It gave us back our pride. The tools to guide us with a new conversation with Government around the full realization of our rights in relation to land and native title can be found in the UN Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Right to Development. 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 The assumptions were quite erroneous, of course, but Terra Nullius was set in unshakeable motion and stayed rooted in place for two hundred years, even though Aborigines had been in Australia for at least 40,000 years. By continuing to use this site, you are giving us consent to do this. The Keating government gave effect to the Mabo decision by introducing the Native Title Act 1993, which facilitated the process of recognising native title. While working as a gardener at James Cook University, he found out through two historians that, by law, he and his family did not own their land on Mer. It goes on to mention the yet unfulfilled nature of redress through a social justice package that I alluded to earlier: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been progressively dispossessed of their lands. Governance has always been at the core of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and our community life. He would later describe his time on the island as 'the best time of my life'1. (Transcript), 2014 Presentation byMs Shannan Dodson, Digital Campaign Manager, Recognise Australia. Eddie Koiki Mabo presents a guest lecture about the Torres - YouTube You Murray Islanders have won that court case. Help your class to explore the life of Eddie Mabo with this engaging and educational biography-writing task. The issue of compensation goes to the core of the initial intent of addressing the historical dispossession of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from their lands and waters. This is our land. A world turning. SPEECH - THURSDAY, 3 JUNE . Eddie Mabo was heartbroken and never forgave government authorities. eddie mabo speech transcript eddie mabo speech transcript To seek justice we had to speak the words of British law. Family gatherings were foregone. Topics are usually less than 2 minutes long. Eddie's daughter, Gail Mabo remembers that day well. Love, suffering, hope, justice and truth Eddie Mabo knew about love too. We need to work alongside government to equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills to turn the economic and commercial aspirations into reality. Eddie Koiki Sambo was born on June 29, 1936 on the Torres Strait island of Mer, also known as Murray Island. This independence could be realized through greater roles for Indigenous landholders through business, land management and other opportunities. You may have heard that Tim Wilson, Human Rights Commissioner and I recently co-convened a roundtable on Yawuru country on the issue of Indigenous property rights. It is lament. The Murray Islands Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (commonly known as the Mabo case or simply Mabo) is a landmark decision of the High Court of Australia that recognised the existence of Native Title in Australia. Mabo's credibility as the primary witness for the case was savaged . Stan Grant is the ABC's international affairs analyst and presents China Tonight on Monday at 9:35pm on ABC TV, and Tuesday at 8pm on the ABC News Channel, anda co-presenter of Q+A on Thursday at 8:30pm. I am sure that these issues will resonate with many of you here today. In particular, Roundtable participants lamented the lack of governance skills amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander landholders to successfully engage in business development and to manage their estates. His mother passed away shortly after his birth and he was adopted by his Uncle Benny and Aunty Maigo Mabo in line with Islander custom. We leave base camp and start our trek across this vast country. Henry Reynolds (historian) - Wikipedia The Court also recognised that all Indigenous people in Australia have rights to their land. I also acknowledge the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion who is here today and my colleague Tim Wilson, our Australian Human Rights Commissioner. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice, Copyright Australian Human Rights Commission, http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/JlIndigP/2014/33.pdf, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/property-rights-will-help-economic-development-of-indigenous-australians/story-e6frg6z6-1227365821530, https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/social_justice_native_title_report_2013.pdf, http://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/native-title-report-2008, http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Development/Pages/RealizingaVisionforTransformativeDevelopment.aspx, http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ALRCRefJl/2009/15.html#FootnoteB6, http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/table-1-human-development-index-and-its-components#a, http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/reports/264/hdr_2003_en_complete.pdf. Aboriginal Australians are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their landmark victory over land rights. Document: 00003849.pdf 1 Page(s) Speech at the Gurindji Land Ceremony. This was apartheid in Australia, not South Africa. The commitment to a land fund; and importantly, participation in decision-making underpinned by the concept of free, prior and informed consent and good faith. In one, the presiding judge said the mere introduction of British law did not extinguish Aboriginal customary law. Eddie Koiki Mabo died of cancer on 21 January 1991, before the case was resolved. OM95-26 Mabo Cutting Books 1990-1994 - (2 vols.) It was also a flagrant disregard of Britain's own existing laws, which stated that the Aboriginal people did have title rights over their own land. For significant service to the community as a cultural leader and public sector executive in the field of Indigenous affairs.. Mabo Collection | National Library of Australia Mabo Day & Native Title: Who was Eddie Mabo & what is his legacy Celebrating Mabo's courage - Jan 2015 - JCU Australia Read about our approach to external linking. Watch all your favourite ABC programs on ABC iview. These things range from various legal and administrative barriers that are placed on us once a native title determination has been made and includes various tax and regulatory standards placed on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the post determination phase, conflicts between individual and communal property interests and issues arising from the conversion of title.