Aboriginal Land Rights Essay - 1072 Words

Aboriginal Land Rights Aboriginal Australians have always had an eternal bond with the land. For the 50,000 years or more, they have occupied the continent; the land provided not only the basic needs, but also the spiritual beliefs. In the Dreaming, the forms of the land, mountains, rivers, landscapes and animals took shape and the spirit of ancestors resided in places that became sacred sites to the Aboriginal people. The land to these people were their most precious commodity. When white settlement began in Australia in 1788, the concept of terra nullius {the land belonging to no-one} was adopted by the British. This was assumed because the Aboriginals had not cultivated the land, so it†¦show more content†¦It also found it was out of step with international human rights and that Aboriginals had been dispossessed of their land rights unlawfully. Native Title Act 1993 After the Mabo case which recognised the existence of native title rights, Land Councils lobbied the Federal Government to legislate to protect any native title that had survived 200 years of colonisation. The Native Title Act 1993 is part of the Commonwealth Governments response to that historic High Court decision. The Native Title Act came into operation on 1 January 1994 The Act does five things: * It recognises and protects native title. * It provides a regime to enable future dealings in native title lands and imposes conditions on those dealings * It provides for the validation of any past grants of land that may otherwise have been invalid because of the existence of native title * It establishes a regime to ascertain where native title exists, who holds it and what it is, and to determine compensation for acts affecting it. * It creates a land acquisition fund to meet the needs of dispossessed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who would not be able to claim native title. Wik Case 1996 After the Mabo Case resolved the land rights dilemma of Aboriginals, there were unresolved conflicts on the issue of pastoral leases,Show MoreRelatedAboriginal Land Rights in Australia1461 Words   |  6 Pagesincrease in aboriginals gaining a voice in today’s society. Kevin Rudd’s apology as described by Pat Dodson (2006) as a seminal moment in Australia’s history, expressed the true spirit of reconciliation opening a new chapter in the history of Australia. Although from this reconciliation, considerable debate has arisen within society as to whether Aboriginals have a right to land of cultural significance. Thus, causing concern for current land owners, as to whether they will be entitled to their land. Read More Aboriginal Land Rights within Australia Essay1885 Words   |  8 Pagessociety is now witnessing an increase in aboriginals gaining a voice in today’s society. Described by Pat Dodson (2006) as a seminal moment in Australia’s history, Rudd’s apology was expressed in the true spirit of reconciliation opening a new chapter in the history of Australia. Considerable debate has arisen within society as to whether aboriginals have a right to land that is of cultural significance and whether current land owners will be able to keep their land. 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In the world, the differences of these things such as appearance and beliefs have been discriminated. Especially, Indigenous people often have been invaded their cultures and lands in the world and because of this, the number of Indigenous people have decreased. The main focus of this essay is Australian Aboriginal people’s identity. Dudgeon, Wright, Paradies, Garvey, and Walker (2010, p. 6) stated: ‘Aboriginality is about descent, culture, upbringing and life experiences. Thus there are manyRead MoreAboriginal Self Government : Aboriginal People1633 Words   |  7 PagesAboriginal Self-Government Aboriginals have lived various types of lives and in attempt to improve the lives of Canada’s Aboriginal people formed the Aboriginal self-government. Since the formation, the self-government has accomplished some things that have both positively and negatively impacted Aboriginal people. On the most part, the Aboriginal self-government has improved the lives of Canada’s Aboriginal people significantly. Not only has it improved the lives of Aboriginals, but has also supportedRead MoreWhy is it Difficult to Define an Aboriginal Person?1336 Words   |  5 PagesAboriginal peoples occupied Canadian lands long before the country was established and yet their position within Canadian hierarchy is often questioned. Colonialism imposed Euro-Canadian standards on First Nations peoples, challenging socio-cultural traditions and norms in the process. The implications of this decision propagate a longstanding marginalization of Aboriginal people, which is still experienced today (Frideres and Gasacz 1). Historical circumstances have created an unbalanced dichotomyRead MoreAboriginal Discrimination And Aboriginal People1301 Words   |  6 Pages Overview For many centuries the original inhabitants of Canada, the Aboriginals, have suffered at the hands of the government. From unrightly abducting their land to racial discrimination and forcing them to comply with Euro-Canadian culture, Indigenous people had every right to be enraged. Indigenous, or Aboriginal people is a title given to the original settlers and their descendants of North America. Indians (or First nations), Metis and Inuit, are 3 groups of distinct peoples with unique histories