-
Day of Mourning
For the first time on the 26th of January 1938, Indigenous Australians commemorated its day of mourning. This day is important to the Indigenous people as it honours the suffering of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. It was also the main contributor to the start of the Civil Rights Movement in Australia. -
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an important document that set out essential human rights to be globally protected. This document was adopted by the UN on the 10th of December 1948. Since Australia was a founding member of these rights, they would be required to sustain those rights. One of the rights included not to discriminate against different nationalities which made a huge impact for Indigenous Australians as they have been facing racism their whole lives. -
Freedom Rides
The Freedom Rides occurred in February 1965. These rides showed people that Aboriginal individuals were receiving poor education and housing. The rides were organised by a group of University of Sydney students. The event also marked how people were absolutely dissatisfied with the mistreatment of Indigenous people -
Referendum
The Referendum was managed to change the Australian constitution to include Indigenous Australians in the census and vote federally. This referendum was proposed to Indigenous people in the census and to allow the Commonwealth government to make laws for Aboriginal people. Prior to the referendum, Indigenous individuals were not allowed to vote, gain citizenship or have equal rights. -
Tent Embassy
Occuring on 26th January 1972, four young Aboriginal men put up a beach umbrella on the lawns outside the Parliament House and put up a sign which read 'Aboriginal Embassy'. The event held a great importance to the civil rights movement in Australia as over the following months, the group gathered large amounts of supporters for the campaign. This event also marked the day when the public began to acknowledged the Aboriginals in a positive way. -
Whitlam Government Returns Land
On the 16th of August 1975, Gough Whitlam returned the traditional lands located in the Northern Territory to the Gurindji people. This brought an end to their struggle to reclaim their traditional land. -
Mabo Ruling
The Mabo Ruling was a legal case that was held in 1992 that lead to an overturning 'terra nullius'. The Mabo decision acted as a turning point for the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's rights. It acknowledged the Indigenous people's unique connection with the land. -
Bringing Them Home Report
The Bringing Them Home Report came from a National inquiry into the stolen generation and was later released in 1997. The report revealed the pain felt by many Australians who were affected by this policy (Stolen Generation). It showed that the children were denied common law rights and other victimisation. Victims received an apology and compensation -
Kevin Rudd's Apology
On February 13th 2008, the Prime Minister of Australia (at that time) apologised to the Stolen Generations and said 'sorry' to the Indigenous people. This apology was the accomplishment to the Civil Rights Movement. -
Tanya Day
Tanya Day died from a fatal head injury in custody, she was arrested for being drunk and asleep on the train. She fell and hit her head on a concrete wall on 2017, she was then left fatally injured on the floor for three hours. At about 8:03pm, police noticed a big dark bruise on Day's forehead, the ambulance was called and Tanya was taken to hospital. Tanya underwent surgery, but unfortunately died 17 days later.
