Who is mabo

Learn more about Eddie Mabo. Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images or names of people who have since passed away. What is reconciliation? Reconciliation Australia acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

Commemorating Mabo Day. What is the Mabo case? 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.

These strong cultural roots would be the basis for his later legal challenge. In he moved to Townsville in Queensland and held a variety of jobs including working on pearling boats, cutting cane and as a railway fettler. Koiki was a skilled performer and teacher of Meriam song and dance. He also enjoyed art and spent his spare time painting water colours and relaxing on his boat.

He described how his grandfather had told him that after the missionaries arrived, the men continued to participate in Malo initiation ceremonies in secret. That when Mabo himself was nine or ten years old, he was taken with other boys to learn dances and songs such as that of Gelam, who formed the isle of Mer in the shape of a dugong, and the history of Malo. Koiki quickly involved himself in politics and community organisations, becoming a prominent leader for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland.

He was also involved in the Referendum campaign to have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples included in the census and to allow the national Australian Government, rather than the state and territory governments, to make laws that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

His village Las would always remain his home. Sadly, he would later be denied the right to return to his homelands because of his active campaigning. My father had hoped to visit his father, Benny Mabo, who was suffering from tuberculosis. Tuberculosis was a major killer of Torres Strait Islanders at the time. Our family travelled to Thursday Island but we were refused permission to travel to Mer.

They thought he was too political and would stir up trouble. Six weeks later my father received a telegram saying that his father had died. Mabo documents, Museum of Australian Democracy. Native title in our Lag Meta Aus exhibition. National Film and Sound Archive online resource. The National Museum of Australia acknowledges First Australians and recognises their continuous connection to country, community and culture.

Defining Moments Mabo decision. See our classroom resource. Photo: John Whitterron. Eddie Koiki Mabo:. Traditional Mer Murray Island dancers. Mer Murray Island , Torres Strait. Members of the community and politicians celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mabo High Court decision on 3 June which recognised that Eddie Koiki Mabo and others held native title to land on Murray Island Mer in the Torres Strait.

Tags: indigenous nation politics. Download Mabo 20 years on: a celebration audio file Curriculum subjects. Year levels. In our collection. The painting has a black cardboard mat around it, and is framed in a wooden frame.

The frame has gold coloured decoration around the inner edge.