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{{Use Australian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Eddie Mabo
| image = File:EddieMaboportrait.gif
| caption = Mabo {{ca.}} 1980s
| birth_name = Edward Koiki Mabo
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1936|
| birth_place = [[Mer Island, Queensland|Mer]], [[Torres Strait Islands]], [[Queensland]], Australia
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1992|
| death_place = [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]], Australia
| occupation = Author, educator, land rights activist
| years active = 1959−1991
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Bonita Mabo]]|1959}}
| children = 10
}}
'''Edward Koiki Mabo''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ɑː|b|o:}} {{respell|MAH|bo}}) (29 June 1936 – 21 January 1992) was an [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous Australian]] man from the [[Torres Strait Islands]] known for his role in campaigning for [[Indigenous land rights in Australia]], in particular the landmark decision of the [[High Court of Australia]] that recognised that indigenous rights to land had continued after the British Crown acquired sovereignty and that the international law doctrine of [[terra nullius]] was not applicable to Australian domestic law. High court judges considering the case ''[[Mabo v Queensland (No 2)]]'' found in favour of Mabo, which led to the ''[[Native Title Act 1993]]'' and established [[native title in Australia]], officially recognising the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.
== Early life and family ==
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Mabo married [[Bonita Mabo|Bonita Neehow]], an Australian [[South Sea Islander]], in 1959. The couple had seven children and adopted three more.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/01/1091298558059.html?from=storylhs |title=It's time, says Bonita Mabo |date=2004-08-01 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=2015-03-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924142015/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/01/1091298558059.html?from=storylhs |archive-date=2015-09-24}}</ref> Bonita Mabo died in Townsville on 26 November 2018, aged 75, just days after receiving an honorary doctorate of letters from [[James Cook University]] for her contributions to Indigenous rights and human rights.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-26/bonita-mabo-dies-days-after-human-rights-accolade/10555496 |last=Higgins |first=Isabella |title=Bonita Mabo, prominent Indigenous rights activist, dies days after receiving accolade |website=ABC News |date=26 November 2018 |access-date=27 November 2018 |archive-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126203347/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-26/bonita-mabo-dies-days-after-human-rights-accolade/10555496 |url-status=live }}<!--date 26th presumed--></ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/27/bonita-mabo-tributes-pour-in-for-mother-of-native-title |last=Allam |first=Lorena |title=Bonita Mabo: tributes pour in for 'mother of native title' |work=The Guardian |date=27 November 2018 |access-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127000106/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/27/bonita-mabo-tributes-pour-in-for-mother-of-native-title |archive-date=27 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
One daughter, [[Gail Mabo]] (born 1966), is a successful [[visual artist]] who has had her work exhibited across Australia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gail Mabo |website=Indigenous Law Centre |publisher=[[University of New South Wales]] |url=https://www.ilc.unsw.edu.au/artists/gail-mabo#:~:text=Gail%20Mabo%20is%20a%20multi,of%20the%20Order%20of%20Australia). |access-date=10 December 2021 |archive-date=10 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210230424/https://www.ilc.unsw.edu.au/artists/gail-mabo#:~:text=Gail%20Mabo%20is%20a%20multi,of%20the%20Order%20of%20Australia). |url-status=live }}</ref> Before beginning her studies in art in the 2000s, she had a career in dance, [[choreography]], and acting.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gail Mabo, b. 1965 |website=[[Design and Art Australia Online]] |date=4 May 2017 |url=https://www.daao.org.au/bio/gail-mabo/ |access-date=10 December 2021 |archive-date=10 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210225416/https://www.daao.org.au/bio/gail-mabo/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mabo Art |url=http://www.jcu.edu.au/austindigenousinfo/partnerships/media/JCUPRD_047905.html |publisher=[[James Cook University|jcu.edu.au]] |date=21 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114554/http://www.jcu.edu.au/austindigenousinfo/partnerships/media/JCUPRD_047905.html |archive-date=2014-08-26}}</ref> She has also worked with schools in [[New South Wales]] as a cultural advisor,<ref>{{cite web |title=Social Justice and Human Rights Issues: A Global Perspective |url=http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ab_studies/rights/global/social_justice_global/sjwelcome.g.bio.htm |publisher=[[Charles Sturt University |csu.edu.au]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114446/http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ab_studies/rights/global/social_justice_global/sjwelcome.g.bio.htm |archive-date=2014-08-26}}</ref> and has served as the family's designated spokesperson.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mabo's gift |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/mabos-gift-20120601-1zn6e.html |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=2 June 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916234053/http://www.smh.com.au/national/mabos-gift-20120601-1zn6e.html |archive-date=16 September 2014}}</ref>▼
▲), is a successful [[visual artist]] who has had her work exhibited across Australia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gail Mabo |website=Indigenous Law Centre |publisher=[[University of New South Wales]] |url=https://www.ilc.unsw.edu.au/artists/gail-mabo#:~:text=Gail%20Mabo%20is%20a%20multi,of%20the%20Order%20of%20Australia). |access-date=10 December 2021 |archive-date=10 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210230424/https://www.ilc.unsw.edu.au/artists/gail-mabo#:~:text=Gail%20Mabo%20is%20a%20multi,of%20the%20Order%20of%20Australia). |url-status=live }}</ref> Before beginning her studies in art in the 2000s, she had a career in dance, [[choreography]], and acting.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gail Mabo, b. 1965 |website=[[Design and Art Australia Online]] |date=4 May 2017 |url=https://www.daao.org.au/bio/gail-mabo/ |access-date=10 December 2021 |archive-date=10 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210225416/https://www.daao.org.au/bio/gail-mabo/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mabo Art |url=http://www.jcu.edu.au/austindigenousinfo/partnerships/media/JCUPRD_047905.html |publisher=[[James Cook University|jcu.edu.au]] |date=21 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114554/http://www.jcu.edu.au/austindigenousinfo/partnerships/media/JCUPRD_047905.html |archive-date=2014-08-26}}</ref> She has also worked with schools in [[New South Wales]] as a cultural advisor,<ref>{{cite web |title=Social Justice and Human Rights Issues: A Global Perspective |url=http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ab_studies/rights/global/social_justice_global/sjwelcome.g.bio.htm |publisher=[[Charles Sturt University |csu.edu.au]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114446/http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/ab_studies/rights/global/social_justice_global/sjwelcome.g.bio.htm |archive-date=2014-08-26}}</ref> and has served as the family's designated spokesperson.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mabo's gift |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/mabos-gift-20120601-1zn6e.html |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=2 June 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916234053/http://www.smh.com.au/national/mabos-gift-20120601-1zn6e.html |archive-date=16 September 2014}}</ref>
Mabo's nephew was Anglican Bishop [[Saibo Mabo]].<ref name="ABC Law Report 20 years">{{cite news |last1=Barraud |first1=Anita |title=Mabo 20 years on |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lawreport/mabo-20-years-on/4027574 |work=The Law Report |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=29 May 2012 |access-date=18 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413231247/http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lawreport/mabo-20-years-on/4027574 |archive-date=13 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
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In 1973, Eddie and Bonita Mabo established the Black Community School in Townsville, where Torres Strait Islander children could learn their own culture rather than European culture.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mabonativetitle.com/theman_18.shtml |title=Black Community School |website=Screen Australia Digital Learning |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410125426/http://www.mabonativetitle.com/theman_18.shtml |archive-date=10 April 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=27 November 2018}}</ref>
Speaking to the State Library of Queensland for their podcast series about the Mabo decision, Eddie's daughter Gail Mabo recalled that her father particularly objected to Torres Strait Islander children being taught a version of history that did not include any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander voices or perspectives. She also said that Eddie Mabo believed that knowledge of their culture would give Torres Strait children growing up on the mainland a solid foundation and a sense of pride.
Noel Zaro attended the Black Community School, also known as BCS. He remembered that on a standard day, the school taught Western subjects such as English and Maths in the morning: after lunch, students would be taught about Torres Strait Islander culture, including basic Meriam language vocabulary as well as traditional dancing. Some students, including Noel Zaro, took field trips to other schools for traditional dance demonstrations, often transported by parents or family members.
As the school was not sanctioned by the Queensland education board, Eddie Mabo served unpaid as principal, cultural instructor and school bus driver. He continued to work as a gardener at James Cook University in the evenings.<ref>{{cite podcast |host=Patrick,Rhianna|title=Hi, I'm Eddie: Episode Three: A Better Education|website=slq.qld.gov.au|publisher=State Library of Queensland |date=23 May 2022 |url=https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/discover/podcasts/hi-im-eddie |access-date=13 September 2023}}</ref>
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Five months later, on 3 June 1992, the High Court announced its historic decision to recognise the land rights of Indigenous Australians. That decision, formally ''[[Mabo v Queensland (No 2)]]'', now commonly called "Mabo" in Australia, is recognised for its landmark status.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=16 November 2022 |title=Mabo decision |url=https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/mabo-decision |access-date= |website=National Museum of Australia |language=en}}</ref>
Three years after Mabo died, that being the traditional mourning period for the people of Murray Island, a memorial service was held. The next day, Mabo's gravesite was attacked by vandals who spray-painted swastikas and racial slurs on his tombstone as well as removing a bronze bas-relief portrait of him.<ref>{{cite news |last=Henderson |first=Ian |title=Vandalism of Mabo's grave 'a racist act' |work=The Canberra Times |publisher=Fairfax Limited |date=5 June 1995 |page=1 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127528703 |accessdate=28 December 2021 |archive-date=27 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227214454/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127528703 |url-status=live }}</ref> His family decided to have his body reburied on Murray Island. On the night of his reinterment, the Islanders performed their traditional ceremony for the burial of a Meriam king, a ritual not seen on the island for 80 years.
== Legacy ==
In 1992, Edward Koiki
In 1993 ''[[The Australian]]'' newspaper commemorated his work by voting him the 1992 Australian of the Year (not to be confused with the official [[Australian of the Year]] awards issued by the Australian Government).<ref name="naa">{{cite web |title=Papers of Edward Koiki Mabo – MS 8822 |publisher=[[National Library of Australia]] |url=http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/8822.html |access-date=2007-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050718022848/http://www.nla.gov.au//ms/findaids/8822.html |archive-date=18 July 2005 |url-status=live}}</ref>
A documentary film, ''[[Mabo: Life of an Island Man]]'', directed by Trevor Graham, was released in 1997 and received the [[Australian Film Institute Award for Best Documentary]].
The [[Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture Series]] was established in his honour in 2004 at James Cook University. The lectures have been given by eminent Australians on [[Mabo Day]] (3 June), in [[National Reconciliation Week]], in most years since then.<ref>{{cite web | title=Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture Series | website=JCU | url=https://www.jcu.edu.au/ierc/ierc-news/eddie-koiki-mabo-lecture-series | access-date=5 June 2022 | archive-date=20 March 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320100654/https://www.jcu.edu.au/ierc/ierc-news/eddie-koiki-mabo-lecture-series | url-status=live }}</ref>
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[[Category:Culture of the Torres Strait Islands]]
[[Category:Australian indigenous rights activists]]
[[Category:Australian republicans]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Queensland]]
[[Category:Torres Strait Islanders]]
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