50, 000 YEARS OF LAND OWNERSHIP
Whilst the Aboriginals felt a connection to the land and had respected and looked after it for 50,000 years, the Europeans only needed 300 years to destroy it. They farmed the land which destroyed the native environment. At the same time, the Europeans took away all Aboriginal land rights. Aboriginals have always been spiritually, physically, socially and culturally connected to the land and believe that it owns them. They respect the land, only taking what they need, which allows for regeneration and Australia flourished under their care. Every aspect of their life was somehow connected to the land, as Galarrwuy Yunipingu puts it ‘The land is my backbone’. In 1787, when the first fleet arrived in Australia, the Europeans declared it Terra Nullius and set about making it their own. They killed native vegetation to make room for their farms and destroyed sacred sites where dreaming stories took place. The land was declared theirs and the Aboriginals were told that none of the land belonged to them even though they had been there for 50, 000 years. The Aboriginals were furious and the Mabo Case began. It went to the High Court and the battle for land rights continued. During this time, the Aboriginals had a few victories including Uluru being returned to them in 1985. This victory made the Aboriginals even more determined to win the Mabo Case. In 1992, after 10 years, the Mabo Case drew to a close and the Aboriginals won. The Aboriginals officially had land rights, and their 50,000 year connection to the land could continue. The Europeans destroyed the native environment but they couldn’t destroy the Aboriginal’s connection to the land and eventually this was proven by the courts.
LAND RIGHTS MOVEMENT
One of the most important events in the history of Aboriginal land rights was the Wave Hill Walk Off. Vincent Lingiari lead this strike, which resulted in the Aboriginal's gaining land rights.
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POEMS
There has been a number of poems written about Aboriginal land rights. These poems help us to gain a deeper understanding of the issue and allows us to better understand the Aboriginal fight.
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