Eddie Mabo (1936–92)
NOT IN THE TEST This part is worth reading, but the citizenship test never asks about it.
Eddie Koiki Mabo was an activist and spokesperson on Indigenous land rights. He was born on Murray Island, on the traditional land of the Meriam people of the Torres Strait.
From an early age, he was taught exactly which trees and rocks marked the boundaries of his family’s land.
It was not until many years later that Eddie learnt that his homeland was considered Crown land under Australian law and did not belong to his family. He turned his anger into action and took his case to court on behalf of the people of Murray Island.
In 1992, after many years, Eddie’s case was won in the High Court. The Mabo decision ruled that if Aboriginal people could prove that they had a historic and ongoing traditional connection to their land, they could claim ownership of that land if it was otherwise unclaimed. This decision has seen the return of large areas of land to their original owners.
Eddie Mabo is remembered for his courage and for gaining land rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
From Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, the official booklet