30 Years of the Mabo Legacy
Overview
Over the course of the past 30 years, the Mabo legacy and the story of how Eddie Koiki Mabo and his associates confronted the government and prompted real and tangible change in the Australian legal system has been celebrated and marked in the period around Mabo Day. This has been acknowledged in many ways, particularly on the major anniversaries of the decision, which have prompted moments of reflection and action.
Timeline
1995 – Mabo Day
Eddie Koiki Mabo’s Tombstone Opening Ceremony on 3 June 1995, (held on the same day of the court decision – 3 June) was when Mabo Day was initiated by the Mabo Family. Since 1996 Mabo Day has formed part of the National Reconciliation Week celebrations.
2002 – The 10th Anniversary of the Mabo Decision
In 2002 several celebrations and commemorations were held to mark the 10 year anniversary of the decision of the Mabo case. While visiting Melbourne on promotional business with other members of the Mabo family, Bonita Mabo called for the date of the decision to become a national public holiday. Mabo Day has been celebrated in various communities since 1992, but was not a formally recognised national holiday. A campaign to have Mabo Day gazetted as a national public holiday commenced in 2003, and is still (as of 2022) ongoing. Although the day is not yet declared a public holiday, it became a gazetted “special holiday” in many areas and is nationally recognised and celebrated throughout Australia.
2012 – The 20th Anniversary of the Mabo decision
Mabo Day celebrations, 3 June, 2012
James Cook University recognised the 20th anniversary of the Mabo decision at Eddie Koiki Mabo Library on Mabo Day, 2012.
Celebrations included a traditional Smoking Ceremony, traditional dancing, and a dedication of the Eddie Koiki Mabo memorial cenotaph in its new location outside the southern entrance of the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library. Addresses were given by James Cook University Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Sandra Harding, and Professor Stanley Nangala (JCU School of Indigenous Australian Studies).
Gail Mabo presented her art exhibition, 17, in the foyer of Eddie Koiki Mabo Library. Gail spoke about her position as a member of the 17th generation of the Mabo family. The exhibition featured screen prints of traditional Torres Strait fishing scoops (baskets) and the sardines that are readily caught off the beach on Mer Island.
The commemoration concluded with a panel discussion about the making of the film, Mabo. The panel featured Darren Dale, Gail Mabo, Jimi Bani, Noel Loos and Charles Passi.
June 9, 2012 – Mabo, the movie
The Mabo movie, directed by Rachel Perkins and starring Jimi Bani as Eddie Koiki Mabo and Deborah Mailman as Bonita Mabo, was partially filmed on the Townsville campus of JCU, where Koiki worked and where the Land Rights and the Future of Australian Race Relations Conference was held. Several librarians took part in the filming as extras.
Mabo movie photo shoot at Eddie Koiki Mabo Library
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2017 – 25 years since the Mabo decision
June 3, 2017 marked 25 years since native title was recognised in Australia. Several commemorative events took place across the nation, including a special project to undertake restoration work on Koiki’s grave on Mer. Mabo Day celebrations, by now regular annual events, included the Mabo Festival, held in Townsville. The featured artist for the Eddie Koiki Mabo Art Exhibition was Gail Mabo (with the exhibition Reflections: 25 Years On), and the Mabo Lecture that year was presented by Professor Megan Davis (“The Mabo Political Settlement: What Became of the Social Justice Package?“). Outside of JCU, the QPAC Mabo Oration was delivered by Dr Dawn Casey PSM, and the AIATSIS Mabo Lecture was given by June Oscar AO.
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25 years after Mabo decision: Indigenous Native Title still a struggle
Episode of AM (ABC Radio program) -
Presenters: Doug Passi, Mr Lui Ned David, Ms Garagu Kanai. The panel discussion will involve all four chairs of the PBCs in discussing current topical issues that PBCs in the Torres Strait region are dealing with. The panel session will be be facilitated by Ned David who is both the PBC Chair of Magani Lagaugal RNTBC and Chair of the GBK (the Torres Strait Sea and Land Council).
The panel will discuss the progress that PBCs in the Torres Strait region have made since the Mabo decision and highlight certain milestone achievements of their struggles. -
James Cook University Law Review Vol 23 Issue 2017
This special issue reflects on the 25th anniversary of the Mabo decision and includes essays by Henry Reynolds and Bryan Keon-Cohen -
Mabo 25 years on: How much do we know about the man behind the legend?
ABC Radio National / By Luke Pearson for Awaye! -
Marking Mabo: How has native title changed since landmark ruling?
By Catriona May, University of Melbourne
As the Government considers its response to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, we look at another major milestone in the journey towards Indigenous recognition. -
New coin designed by Boneta-Marie Mabo released into circulation for National Reconciliation Week
To mark the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum and the 25th anniversary of the High Court Mabo decision, award-winning contemporary artist and granddaughter of Eddie Mabo, Boneta-Marie Mabo, collaborated with the Royal Australian Mint in the design of Australia’s newest 50c circulating coin.
2022 – 30 Years since the Mabo decision
In 2022, James Cook University developed and hosted numerous activities, events and a dedicated website to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Mabo decision.
An Anniversary Committee, Chaired by JCU Chancellor Bill Tweddell, was formed in late 2021 to plan and monitor the commemorative activities, and a Project Officer was employed to help manage the multiple projects across the university, in collaboration with the different colleges and directorates, and in consultation with members of the community.
The following events took place on JCU’s Bebegu Yumba and Nguma-bada Campuses in Townsville and Cairns:
Eddie Koiki Mabo Art Exhibition (20 May – 10 June)
“Tribute” Arone Meeks was held at the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library and was almost a sell-out show. The “Tribute” exhibition featured artworks from the late Arone Raymond Meeks (b.1957 – d. 2021), a nationally and internationally acclaimed and celebrated Queensland artist and proud Kuku Midiji man. The exhibition was collaboratively curated by independent Cairns-based artist Geoff Dixon and the Manager of Special Collections Bronwyn McBurnie. It featured selected paintings and prints created by Arone Meeks in the years between 2001 – 2021.
A short documentary was produced by the library in collaboration with the exhibition curator Geoff Dixon who co-narrated the video using the text he had written for the exhibition catalogue. The video includes image and video resources from a range of contributors who had worked with Arone Meeks during his career as an artist. A virtual tour of the exhibition was also created for those who were not able to view the exhibition in person. These legacy items help to describe and promote “Tribute” Arone Meeks to a much broader audience and remain available for view.
Q+A Programme, ABC TV
The Eddie Koiki Mabo Library in collaboration with other JCU departments provided logistical support for Gail Mabo to appear and speak via livestream from Townsville’s Bebegu Yumba Campus in June and July 2022.
On June 2, Gail joined other Q+A panellists in ABC TV’s Sydney studios on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the historic Mabo decision to discuss what’s been achieved since the High Court rejected the myth of terra nullius. The program was called “Mabo, a Voice and the Road Ahead – Q+A.”
Gail Mabo was also a keynote speaker at the University of Tasmania’s ASAL Conference 2022 (4 – 8 July), where she spoke to the conference theme, Coming to Terms, 30 Years On: The Mabo Legacy in Australian Writing.
Mabo Under the Stars at Eddie Koiki Mabo Library
On the evening of July 21, JCU Library Services in collaboration with Library Patron Gail Mabo, JCU Diversity and Equity, and the JCU Student Association hosted a free movie screening of Mabo the movie, on the lawns of the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library.
The movie was introduced by Gail Mabo and included a traditional Smoking Ceremony and dance performance by the Thulgarrie Yallarin Bindal Dancers, and a Welcome to Country by Traditional Owner, Bindal Elder, Professor Gracelyn Smallwood. Following the showing the audience had the opportunity to ask Gail questions.
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Legal Studies Conference (August 12 & 19, 2022)
The JCU College of Business, Law and Governance hosted two Legal Studies Conferences in August 2022, inviting Legal Studies Teachers and Students in Year 11 and 12 from all schools in the Northern Queensland region to attend. The conference was held on the Nguma-bada Campus, Smithfield, Cairns, on 12 August, and the Bebegu Yumba Campus, Douglas, Townsville on 19 August.
The conference theme was centred on the 30th Anniversary of the historic Mabo Decision. Both one-day programs were designed to provide students and teachers with unique insights into Native Title Law, Human Rights Law, Constitutional Law, Business Law, Criminal Law, Employment Law, Sports Law and more. Professionals and experts in these fields were engaged as speakers for the conferences.Around 440 students and their teachers from 23 schools across the region attended the conferences. The various speakers gave the audiences valuable insights into the nature and importance of their work, including practical tips on the learning pathways that students can take to lead them into a Law career.
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Queensland State Library held an exhibition, titled “Legacy: Reflections on Mabo“, from 28 May 2022 – 9 October 2022, to celebrate Koiki and the ongoing impact and influence of the Mabo decision. This included an artists panel discussion featuring Gail Mabo, Judy Watson and Katina Davidson.
Legacy: Reflections on Mabo is an award-winning exhibition co-curated by Gail Mabo, and past Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts Directors Dr Jonathan McBurnie and Kellie Williams. The exhibition presents a selection of 22 works by 25 Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists responding to an aspect of Eddie Mabo that they were drawn to. It was launched in Townsville at Umbrella’s temporary gallery space in 2019 and has been travelling around the country, on display in regional galleries, since then.
The Legacy of Native Title
As of 2022, 408 determinations recognising native title have been made across Australia. Well over 1000 other land use agreements have also been entered into between Traditional Owners and other parties with an interest in their land. These agreements have been reached through negotiation, rather than litigation. They are registered with the National Native Title Tribunal and have the force of law.
The considerable number of land use agreements is recognition of the widespread acceptance of native title. Each one involves groups and individuals ranging from government bodies to tourism, primary and energy industries, cooperating and accepting the rights of Traditional Owners.
Together, these two elements may be the most significant legacy of Eddie Koiki Mabo in Australia’s legal landscape.
Registered Native Title Body Corporate
Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council