6a Events Issues

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Section A: Aboriginal Peoples

EVENTS / ISSUES

The role of the 1967 Referendum in the struggle of Aboriginal peoples for rights and freedoms

Students learn to:
  • outline the important developments in the nominated events and issues
  • explain the significance of the 1967 Referendum for the changing rights and freedoms of Aboriginal peoples

The role of Land Rights and Native Title in the struggle of Aboriginal peoples for rights and freedoms

Students learn to:
  • outline the important developments in the nominated events and issues
  • explain the significance of the nominated events and issues for the changing rights and freedoms of Aboriginal people


Some of the events which led up to the 1967 referendum:

Aboriginal Day of Mourning Poster.jpg
Day of Mourning
  • When was the day of Mourning?
  • What was the significance of the date?
  • What was the purpose of the protest?

Source 6.3 p.286.

1958 - Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.
  • What were the aims of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders?

  • Name some Aborigines who became prominent in the developing movement for civil rights?

Freedom Ride
  • When was the Freedom Ride?
  • Who was involved?
  • What was its purpose?
  • Describe the tactics used in their protest.
  • What was the significance of the Freedom Ride in the ongoing struggle for Aboriginal rights?
1967_Referendum_Yes_advert.png

1967 REFERENDUM
  • What was the aim of the 1967 referendum? Explain the specific changes to the constitution.
  • Why was the referendum necessary for the advancement of Aboriginal rights?
  • Who supported the referendum?
  • What was the result of the vote?


Read the following websites for more information on the referendum (especially the first site):
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
ABC Message Club
National Archives of Australia
Reconciliation Australia
Australian Parliamentary Library

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
http://www1.aiatsis.gov.au/exhibitions/referendum/intro.html

The role of Land Rights and Native Title in the Struggle of Aboriginal peoples for rights and freedoms


BARK PETITION
(Text p.294)
1963: the Yolngu people (Yirrkala, NT)

  • Federal Government gave 300 square kilometres of land to Nabalco to mine for bauxite.
  • The Yolngu petitioned the federal parliament on bark: the Bark Petition. This had no impact on the government.
  • The Yolngu people went to the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. In 1971, they lost the case: the court rejected any special rights the Yolngu people had to the land despite their well-established connection to the land. Terra Nullius remained the basis for law in relation to Aboriginal land claims.
Wave_Hill_and_Yirrkala.png
Yirrkala is shown with an "A" - Wave Hill is 600km south-west of Katherine

WAVE HILL
(Text p.294 - also photograph p.295)
1966: the Gurindji people of Wave Hill (near Katherine, NT)

  • 200 Aboriginal people walked off Wave Hill station and set up the Wattie Creek protest camp.
  • They were led by Vincent Lingiari.
  • They were protesting against lack of pay and poor living conditions.
  • The protest developed into a land rights issue when they also demanded that some of the land be handed back to them from the owner of the station, Lord Vestey.
  • After a struggle lasting nine years, the Whitlam government handed the Wave Hill Station to the Gurindji people (1975)

Read the petition sent to the Governor-General Lord Casey in 1967

Listen to the song, "From little things big things grow"


The Aboriginal Tent Embassy
(Text pp. 295-6)

The Woodward Royal Commission
(Text - pp.296-8)