Religion Post 1945

Question 1

In what year was the Wik decision?

Answer 1

1996

Question 2

What did the Wik case concern?

Answer 2

Land that was subject to pastoral leases

Question 3

What did the High Court rule in 1996 for Wik?

Answer 3

Native title rights could co-exist with the rights of pastoralists, But when there was a dispute between Native Title Rights and Pastoralist rights, the pastoralists’ rights would prevail.

Question 4

When was the Mabo ruling passed?

Answer 4

1992

Question 5

Who was the leader of the tribe concerning the Mabo case? What was the name of the tribe and its island?

Answer 5

Eddie Mabo
Meriam People
Murray Islands in the Torres Strait

Question 6

What did the Mabo ruling contain?

Answer 6

It overthrew the notion of terra nullius- acknowledged that Aboriginals were occupying Australia at the time of British settlement

Claimed ownership of land under the Native Title Act, which existed since 1788. The Mabo case brought awareness to the existence of this act, which was a step to passing the Native Title Act of 1993

Question 7

What does Native Title mean?

Answer 7

The communal or individual rights or interests of Aboriginal people in relation to traditional land and water bodies

Question 8

When was the Native Title Act passed?

Answer 8

1993

Question 9

What criteria has to be met to obtain ownership under Native Title?

Answer 9

1. The land must not be owned by anyone else

2. The Aboriginal person must produce evidence showing a traditional and continual link with the land since 1788

Question 10

Why wasn’t the Native Title Act especially effective?

Answer 10

1. Only a small portion of Aboriginals could prove that they had an ongoing, traditional connection with the land since 1788
2. Most of the land was already owned by other people or institutions

Question 11

What was the effect of separation from land on Aboriginal people?

Answer 11

1. Because the Dreaming is inexorably linked to the land, Aboriginals could not carry out their rituals and ceremonies, because they were out of context.
2. The land is the context of the Dreaming stories- the link to their ancestors. Hence, the loss of their connection to the land disrupted their sense of identity as they were separated from their ancestors also.

Question 12

What was the effect of separation from kinship groups on Aboriginal people?

Answer 12

1. Resulted in a loss of identity, as they no longer had a role or position in their society. This also resulted in a loss in the spirit of solidarity.

Question 13

What were the three general outcomes of dispossession on Aboriginal people?

Answer 13

1. Separation from the land
2. Separation from kinship groups
3. Stolen Generations

Question 14

What two policies were influential during the period of the Stolen Generations?

Answer 14

1. Protection

2. Assimilation

Question 15

What is the difference between the policies of Protection and Assimilation?

Answer 15

Protection is the removal of Aboriginal children from their families under the pretence that they were living in an ‘uncivilised’ environment followed by placement into missions and reserves. Assimilation is the forced integration of Aboriginal peoples into white society through the abandonment of their traditional beliefs and practices.

Question 16

What is the ongoing effect of the policies of Protection and Assimilation?

Answer 16

1. Higher crime rates

2. Higher rates of illicit substance use

Question 17

Why is the Dreaming important for the Land Rights Movement?

Answer 17

Because the Dreaming is inextricably linked to the land. As the Dreaming governs all facets of Aboriginal life, it can therefore be assumed that the land is a vital component to the expression of the Aboriginal’s spirituality.