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Eddie Koiki Mabo

By dvilic

  • Birth

    He was born in the Community of Las on the island of Mer in the Torres Strait.

  • Eddie Koiki Mabo finds out he does not own the land on Murray Island.

    The land in which Mabo grew up on (Murray Island), is not owned by his people. At the time, he was working as a gardener at James Cook University in Townsville.
  • Mabo makes a speech

    Mabo makes a speech

    At James Cook University, there was a conference held where Eddie Mabo makes a speech. The speech outlined land ownership and inheritance system on Murray Island.
  • Eddie Mabo began his land ownership claims.

    Eddie Mabo began his land ownership claims.

    Eddie Mabo, along side Sam Passi, David Pass, Celuia Mapo Salee and James Rice, made their first legal land ownership claims on Murray Island.

  • The Queensland Government passes the Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act

    This act was passes to negate any claims Torres Strait Islanders have to the land.

  • The High Court finds the Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act contravenes section 10 of the Federal Racial Discrimination Act 1975

    Due to this, the act became invalid. This was based upon the ruling if native title rights did exist, they should be viewed as part of the human right which would allow owning and inheriting property.

  • The High Court rejects the notion of terra nullius

    With the High Court rejecting terra nullius (no man's land), Meriam people were recognised as the native title holders of traditional lands on Murray Island.

  • Death

    Eddie Mabo passes away.
  • Redfern Speech

    Redfern Speech

    Prime minister Paul Keating makes an address to a 2,000-strong crowd in Redfern. He blames non-Aboriginal Australians for their treatment towards Indigenous people.

  • The Native Title Act is tabled in Federal Parliament

    In response to the Mabo ruling after 111 hours of debate, the Native Title Act is tabled in Federal Parliament.