Eddie Koiki Mabo is often thought of as
the Nelson Mandella of Australia
. For many years he fought for the land rights of the indigenous people of Australia and was a key figure in the landmark “Mabo” decision of the High Court of Australia.
Why is Mabo famous?
Mabo gained an education,
became an activist for black rights and worked
with his community to make sure Aboriginal children had their own schools. He also co-operated with members of the Communist Party, the only white political party to support Aboriginal campaigns at the time.
Why is Eddie Mabo a hero?
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
and for his role in a landmark decision of the High Court of Australia which overturned the legal doctrine of terra nullius (“nobody’s land”) which characterised …
Did Eddie Mabo go to jail?
On 2 February 1956 the Murray Islands Court found Mabo guilty of drinking alcohol and exiled him for
one year
in accordance with community by-laws. He worked aboard fishing vessels until 1957 and then as a cane cutter and railway fettler in Queensland.
How did Eddie Mabo impact Australia?
The Mabo decision was a turning point for
the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights
, because it acknowledged their unique connection with the land. It also led to the Australian Parliament passing the Native Title Act in 1993.
Who is the Aboriginal on the 50 dollar note?
The distinct gold colour of the fifty dollar note features Aboriginal ‘
inventor’ David Unaipon
(1872- 1967), born in South Australia. For many years, Unaipon was an employee of the Aborigines’ Friends Association.
How did terra nullius affect the Aboriginal?
Terra nullius essentially asserted that
Indigenous people were non-human
. This premise formed the basis of the relationship between Indigenous people and the nation state from its very inception. This problematic relationship has never been fully resolved, even in light of the Mabo decision and resulting Native Title.
What were Eddie Mabo’s beliefs?
He believed
the land he grew up
on, Murray Island, belonged to the Torres Strait Islander people who had lived there for thousands of years. But, Australian law stated that the Government owned the land. Eddie believed that these laws on land ownership were wrong and decided to fight to change them.
Who designed the Aboriginal flag?
Aboriginal Elder Harold Thomas
, a Luritja man from Central Australia, designed the Aboriginal flag in 1971. It was created as a symbol of unity and national identity for Aboriginal people during the land rights movement of the early 1970s.
What is the meaning terra nullius?
Terra nullius is a Latin term meaning “
land belonging to no one”
. British colonisation and subsequent Australian land laws were established on the claim that Australia was terra nullius, justifying acquisition by British occupation without treaty or payment.
What was Eddie Mabos early life like?
Early years
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. Koiko’s first language was Meriam and he grew up immersed in his Meriam culture. He was taught from a
young age about the importance of respecting other people’s land
.
What does the aboriginal flag look like?
The flag’s design consists of
a coloured rectangle divided in half horizontally
. The top half of the flag is black to symbolise Aboriginal people. The red in the lower half stands for the earth and the colour of ochre, which has ceremonial significance. The circle of yellow in the centre of the flag represents the sun.
What was Eddie Mabo’s legacy?
The legacy of Eddie Mabo is that
he and a large group of people joined the many thousands of Aboriginal people over the last two centuries
who have sought to prevent the extinguishment of their rights and to maintain a sense of dignity.
What does the term native title mean?
Native title is the
recognition by Australian law of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s traditional rights and interests in land and waters held under traditional law and custom
.
