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Eddie Koiki Mabo Timeline

Accompanying website for the Eddie Koiki Mabo Timeline inside the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library, James Cook University

JCU Mabo Lecture - 2017

Professor Megan Davis delivers the Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture in 2017: The Mabo Political Settlement: What became of the social justice package.

Pro Vice Chancellor Indigenous and Professor of Law, UNSW. Prof Davis is an expert member of the United Nations Human Rights Council's Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Prof Davis is a constitutional lawyer who was a member of the Referendum Council and the Expert Panel on the Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution. Megan is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and the Australian Academy of Social Sciences and a Commissioner on the Australian Rugby League Commission.

25 years since the Mabo decision

June 3rd 2017 marked 25 years since native title was recognised in Australia.

Gail Mabo
Mabo Claim 1, 2017
Bamboo, twine, shells, polyurethane 53.5 x 91.2 cm.
© National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
Purchased with funds donated by the Nordia Foundation, 2017 (2017.1222)

Map of Murray Island
© Eddie Koiki Mabo/National Library of Australia

“This artwork (Mabo Claim 1), is a representation of a sculptural map made from bamboo, collected from the bamboo that Eddie Koiki Mabo grew at James Cook University during his time there. It is my response to the 25th anniversary to celebrate the life and achievement of my father through looking at Land Map that he hand-drew to show the connection to land and boundaries which divided family groups. The boundary marks are represented by the Black Crow Shell from Tasmania.”

Gail Mabo and family

25 years Mabo Day celebrations in Townsville: Gail Mabo and her children – Rebecca, Aku, Kaleb, Cade, Joel and Isaac, Mabo Day Townsville 2017.
© Photo courtesy of Gail Mabo.

William Mabo on Mer Island, 2017
© Image courtesy of Gail Mabo

Related Content

25 years after Mabo decision: Indigenous Native Title still a struggle
Episode of AM (ABC Radio program)
25 years since the Mabo decision: the advancement of PBCs (Prescribed Bodies Corporate) in the Torres Strait and the challenges we face
Presenter/s: Doug Passi, Mr Lui Ned David, Ms Garagu Kanai. The panel discussion will involve all 4 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 grand-daughter of Eddie Mabo, Boneta-Marie Mabo, collaborated with the Royal Australian Mint (the Mint) in the design of Australia’s newest 50c circulating coin.

We acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and acknowledge Traditional Owners of the lands where our staff and students, live, learn and work.

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