Aboriginality and the Land Flashcards
Native title
Form of land title which recognises Aboriginal people as rightful owners of the land
Sovereignty
The legal recognition of ownership of land and territory. Implicit in the concept is the right of self-government. Indigenous peoples have never ceded their sovereignty over Australia.
What are the three things which need to be done to ensure sovereignty
Make and change laws within its territory
Ensure that a nation is free from external interference and control its borders
Maintain absolute ownership of all property within the territory
Water rights
Water rights fall under the Native Title Act (1993). Under this legislation, there is no clear right to take the water itself, other than small amounts for cultural purposes. In areas where native title has been recognised, it generally includes rights to take and use water for only personal, social, domestic and cultural purposes (not economic).
land rights
The struggle for Indigenous people for the legal and moral recognition of prior land ownership and associated rights land and water rights and native title legislation
Country
Country is the term often used by Aboriginal peoples to describe the lands, waterways and seas to which they are connected. The term contains complex ideas about law, place, custom, language, spiritual belief, cultural practice, material sustenance, family and identity.
Customary Law
Laws based on traditions and customs
traditional law
Aboriginal people had a complex system of ‘laws’ that represented accepted practices, responsibilities and interactions.
Traditional lore
Connected to the Dreaming and provides rules on how to interact with the land, kinship and community. Aboriginal children learned the lore from childhood by observing customs, ceremonies and song cycles.
Spirituality
Aboriginal Spirituality is the foundation of culture and community. Belief systems guide our morals, values, traditions and customs to ensure a healthy and balanced relationship with the world
Terra nullius
A concept in international law meaning ‘a territory belonging to no-one’ or ‘over which no-one claims ownership’.
Land Rights
The return of certain Crown lands to Aboriginal peoples as compensation for dispossession and the resulting ongoing disadvantage suffered by Aboriginal peoples.
Land right movement pre-60s
Governor Bourke was the first lawmaker in 1835 to say Australia belonged to no-one before British settlement formally
When was the Yirrkala Bark Petition
August 1963
What were the aims of the Yirrkala Bark Petition
Protest calling for an end to mining and the granting of land rights to the Yolongu people the traditional owners of the land.
What were the impacts of the Yirrkala Bark Petition
It was unsuccessful in the short term but began a chain reaction leading to the recognition of the rights of traditional owners of the land.
When was the Gove Land Rights Case
1971
What were the aims of the Gove Land Rights Case
The Yolgnu People tried to stop the mine by taking the company to Court
What was 2 impacts of the Gove Land Rights Case
- The federal government allowed for the mine to go ahead
- Prompted a series of law reforms for the land rights movement
When was the Wave Hill Strike
23 August 1966
What were the aims of the Wave Hill Walkoff
- Originally for better work conditions
- Changed to protest for land rights
What was the 2 impacts of the Wave Hill Walkoff
- Gurinji peoples land returned to them
- Lead to the development of the Aboriginal Land Rights
When was the Land Rights ratified in NSW
1983
What were the features of the Land Rights Act NSW
- Created Aboriginal Land Councils
- Allowed Land Councils to obtain freehold title to land through the process of land claims, purchase or bequests.
What are the issues with Land Rights Act NSW
- In NSW there have been more than 3,000 land rights claims.
As of 20202 there have been 37,000 land rights claims
When was the Mabo Case
1992