Arts and Culture
Mabo Day
Mabo Day will be celebrated for the 30th time on June 3, 2022.
Mabo, also known as Mabo and others v Queensland (No 2), was a 1992 court case. The Australian High Court issued a judicial decision on June 3rd, 1992.
Mabo Day is named after Eddie ‘Koiki’ Mabo, an Australian lawyer who fought for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be recognised as the traditional owners of their land.
Eddie Mabo gave a talk at Queensland’s James Cook University in 1981, describing his people’s views on land ownership and inheritance on Mer.
A lawyer witnessed Eddie’s speech and asked if he wanted to go to court to determine who was the true owner of the land on Mer, his people or the Australian Government. That is exactly what Eddie Mabo did.
A team of lawyers and Koiki Mabo worked tirelessly to prove that his people had Mer’s traditional land ownership systems. Eddie Mabo passed away just five months before the landmark decision on the 3rd of June 1992. It stated that “native title” existed and that it was up to the people of Mer to decide who owned the land.
The Native Title Act of 1993 is significant because it governs the manner in which native title interests are officially documented and acknowledged. It establishes the procedures to deal with land where native title exists or may exist. Native title is now recognised in over two million square kilometres of land.
Indigenous land use agreements lay out the terms under which native title holders and others can access and use the land in question. These agreements are critical to making native title work for all Australians. Currently, there are 967 registered Indigenous land use agreements.
Aboriginal-Art.com.au acknowledges and honour Eddie Koiki Mabo for his significant impact in fighting for recognition and rights for all the Indigenous Asutralians.
If you would like to learn more about the talented artists of the Western Desert that live in the Northern Territory and Western Australia please visit www.aboriginal-art.com.au, Facebook, Instagram, or email story@aboriginal-art.com.au.
Do you want to buy one of our lovely paintings then speak to one of our experts and check out www.aboriginal-art.com.au and see which one you would like !
Aboriginal-Art is a philanthropic arm of efunder Pty Limited and is a non for profit organization with an initiative to raise funds to support a variety of causes for the Aboriginal communities in the Western Desert.
Judy Corak
Chairperson
Co-Founder of Efunder and Aboriginal-Art