News
Four things that Mabo taught me
26.05.22
If you are in Australia, you’ve probably heard the name Eddie Mabo. Mabo day. The Mabo decision. The movie, The Castle.
When I was 12, in 1992, Eddie Mabo passed away. Five months after Mabo’s passing the High Court ruled in his favor of Mabo and his fellow plaintiffs.
The Mabo decision acknowledged that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have rights to land. It is probably the most significant Aboriginal rights case to go through the High Court of Australia.
“The decision that came out was that native title existed and it was up to Aboriginal or Islander people to determine who owned what land. “-Henry Reynolds.
I learned Four Life Lessons from Mabo.
1. A single person can make a difference and have a profound impact on the world.
It is acknowledged that Mabo did not work on his own, but Eddie Mabo was the driving force behind the team.
He was the person with the belief and the vision to see such an important legal battle, even though he lived through a time when racism was entwined in everyday society.
He received death threats. He was part of a minority group. He was disadvantaged in Australia. However, he chose to make a difference. He chose to say no, this was important. And whilst he got a village around him and a team to support him, he made the choice to lead.
A single person can make a difference.
2. We are not too old to learn.
We are not too old to realize we do not know everything. We can always continue to educate ourselves. Mabo’s taught me this.
It has taught me to keep learning, to keep understanding, to keep an open mind.
Our perspectives, tastes, tolerance, world views and understanding can never be broadened if we stop being open to learning.
3. During my lifetime, if equality, healing, and gap closing do not come to fruition it is OK.
I am not researching the impact of Eddie Mabo for me. I am not being an inspiring to be an advocate for me.
I am doing this for my children and future generations of Australia.
I am doing this because it's bigger than me. So, I'm taking steps for future generations to give them something better. If advocacy towards reconciliation, and gap closing do not come to fruition in my lifetime, it's OK.
It is important to remember that it took ten years for Mabo to get to the High Court and to rule in his favor. And he was not there to here the decision.
4. Just because something is, does not mean that how it should be.
Mabo took something that was a legal fact in Australia for over 200 years and overturned it. He pronounced it legal fiction - and he did this within 10 years.
Just because it was a legal fact at the time, did not mean it always had to be and didn't mean it should be.
These lessons opened my eyes to the understanding that if something is in place it does not mean it always will need to be or have to be. And that if you can believe in something maybe you can inspire people. You too can follow your dreams and make a stand for what you believe in.
On 3 June 2022, it will be 30 years since the Mabo decision. The decision led to the Native Title Act (1993) which created a framework that recognizes Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders have rights too, and interests in certain land because of the traditional laws and customs.
30 years since we learnt that a single person could make a difference. Not for themselves, but for future generations.
Image acknowledgement Esther Bruno Nangala – a Lurjita/Pintupi woman