|
'''Edward Koiki Mabo''' (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.
:D
== Early life and family ==
Mabo was born on 29 June 1936<ref name=biog>{{cite web |url=https://www.mabonativetitle.com/theman_05.shtml |title=Mabo: The Man – Adoption |publisher=[[Screen Australia]] |access-date=2014-05-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810161904/http://www.nfsa.gov.au/digitallearning/mabo/theman_05.shtml |archive-date=2014-08-10}}</ref> in the village of Las located on the [[Mer Island|island of Mer]] in the [[Torres Strait]]. His parents were Robert Zesou Sambo and Poipe Mabo, but Eddie was adopted by his uncle Benny Mabo when his mother died shortly after he was born.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Eddie Koiki Mabo |publisher=Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs |date=2021 |accessdate=27 October 2021 |url=https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/eddie-koiki-mabo |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028192656/https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/eddie-koiki-mabo |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=racism>{{cite web |title=Facts Sheet – Edward Koiki Mabo 1936–1992 |publisher=Racism No Way |url=http://www.racismnoway.com.au/teaching-resources/factsheets/54.html |access-date=21 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728074453/http://www.racismnoway.com.au/teaching-resources/factsheets/54.html |archive-date=28 July 2016}}</ref> This adoption was part of traditional [[Torres Strait Islander]] adoption practices.<ref>{{cite news |first=Felicity |last=Caldwell |title=Traditional Torres Strait Islander adoption practices to be acknowledged under Labor |url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland-election-2017/torres-strait-islander-traditional-adoption-practices-would-be-acknowledged-20171115-p4yx0s.html |work=Brisbane Times |date=15 November 2017 |access-date=4 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042621/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland-election-2017/torres-strait-islander-traditional-adoption-practices-would-be-acknowledged-20171115-p4yx0s.html |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
When young, Mabo was influenced by his teacher Robert 'Bob' Victor Miles, a relieving teacher with the Schools for Islanders. Miles was known as a friend of all his students; he not only taught the children of the islands but also learnt their language and encouraged them to use their own language in class. Mabo was one of these students and learnt more than just language from Miles, he also gained an understanding of 'mainland' culture. Mabo, who lived with Miles for a time while his mother was ill, later reflected on the importance of his education. That, along with his confident use of language, self-assured public speaking and understanding of mainland politics, culminated in the landmark case ''Mabo v Queensland'' in 1992.<ref>{{SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/miles-and-mabo-teacher-and-master|title=Miles and Mabo: teacher and master|date=24 January 2022|author(s)=Marg Powell|accessdate=27 May 2022}}</ref>
Eddie had a great bond with his tradition. He enjoyed activities such as Aboriginal painting, dancing and singing. But his uncle and aunt, Benny and Maigo Mabo, taught him to respect other's cultures as well.<ref name=":0" />
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>
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>
His great-nephew is [[NBA]] athlete [[Patty Mills]], the third Indigenous Australian to represent the nation in [[Basketball_at_the_Summer_Olympics|Olympic basketball]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Marc |title=The Better I Got in Sports, the Worse the Racism Got |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/sports/basketball/spurs-patty-mills.html |access-date=21 May 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=July 31, 2020 |ref=Stein |archive-date=21 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521044833/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/sports/basketball/spurs-patty-mills.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Career==
|