Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Essay Example

Over the course of time, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have struggled for their own rights and freedom. Rights and freedom is the power or ability to speak, or think as one wants without the hindrance or restraints of other third parties or influences. This restriction of rights and freedom has commonly been seen affecting indigenous and islander people throughout the course of Australian history, having these individuals forced to voice their own opinions in order to break the chains of oppression causing the development of key historic events such as the Right to vote in 1962 and the 1967 Referendum.

One key development in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples struggle for rights and freedoms include their struggle to obtain the ability to vote. In 1962, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people demonstrated an act of resilience for the purpose of allowing their people to have a say and vote towards federal elections. Before the events of their acceptance towards voting, Indigenous and Islander communities were prohibited and restricted from voting at the federal and state elections, this was because of the cultural barriers formed by the Europeans in fear of territorial ownership, Due to this, it prevented these communities from having a say in future referendums, having only a select few chosen by their colonies to vote despite their non-european background. It wasn’t until the first half of the 20th century, where the growing number of indigenous and islander people began to campaign for their own rights with slogans that read “Right wrongs, write yet for Aborigines!” which through the Conservation infers to the guilt faced by the Australian community for their past actions. This led to many activist groups in 1961 to convene a Select Committee on the voting rights of the Indigenous, having sources such as AIATSIS state that around 30,000 people from Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia were excluded from the acceptance of this vote. As a result, indigenous and islander people were then amended in 1962 with the right to perform a non-compulsory vote, this was because of how legislators were concerned about the penalization of indigenous when not casting their vote. Therefore, one key development in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples struggle for rights and freedoms includes their struggle to obtain the ability to vote.

In particular, the right to vote greatly contributed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders claiming their rights and freedom. In 1962, an act known as the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 was amended to enable indigenous and islander communities to have a say in federal elections. This event is considered as a great contribution to these communities due to how it has given these individuals an opportunity to voice their own opinions without the interference of factors such as discrimination, having them finally treated like other voters. Furthermore, as provided from sources such as the National Museum of Australia website, this development acted as a deciding factor for indigenous and islander communities by having this development correlate to an upcoming development which would enable them in claiming their rights and freedom as part of the Australian population. As a result, the right to vote greatly contributed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders claiming their rights and freedom.

Another key development in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples struggle for rights and freedoms include the 1967 referendum. The 1967 referendum was an Australian vote that was cast on the 27th of May 1967 to change the Australian Constitution so that Indigenous and Islander communities would be recognised as part of the population and that the Australian Commonwealth would be legally allowed to make laws for them. From the results of the right to vote in 1962, indigenous law was monitored and under the responsibility of the states. This meant that from state to state, indigenous law varied greatly from one another. Prior to the events of the referendum, Indigenous and Islander communities have always resiliently protested for the sake of their own rights and freedom. This has been seen in the late 1950’s, having protest events such as the Warburton Ranges controversy in 1957 and the Yirrkala Bark petitions in 1963 cause great commotion due to the mistreatment of indigenous communities such as the 40 indigenous people that had fallen ill due to malnourishment. This need for action can be seen through the Chariot Journal which illustrates a group of students known as the Freedom Rides, having a phrase behind them that states “Student Action for Aborigines”, showing how even students have noticed the mistreatment of the indigenous community. This mistreatment was then put to a stop on the day of voting, having a resounding result of 90.77% agreeing in recognising the indigenous and islander communities as part of the Australian population. Consequently, another key development in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples struggle for rights and freedoms include the 1967 referendum.

Specifically the 1967 referendum greatly contributed to the claiming of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders rights and freedoms. In 1967, the Australian population gathered together to vote both Indigenous and Islander communities as part of the Australian population, entitling them to laws provided by the commonwealth. Prior to this, due to how indigenous people were not considered as citizens, they were commonly treated as foreigners despite being in their home land. Through the Conservation,  it sources an image of both indigenous and white families holding signs that quoted “Count us together, Make us one people”. This proclamation highlights the alienation faced by the indigenous, having them feel disregarded as part of the community. It was through this voting that these outcasted communities were finally given the ability to have control over their own rights and freedom, having this play a part in the development of the First Nations Australian agency, an agency committed to improving indigenous lives. Therefore, the 1967 referendum has greatly contributed to the claiming of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders rights and freedoms.

In conclusion, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have had a persistent struggle in obtaining their rights and freedom since the events that had occurred from the European Invasion. During the events of their struggle, they were able to successfully retake their own rights and freedom through the events of the right to vote in 1962 where they were finally able to have a say in federal elections which then also led to the development of the establishment of the 1967 referendum that allowed them to be recognised as part of the Australian population with the entitlement of laws provided by the commonwealth.