What was wave hill

In March the original Wave Hill lease was surrendered and two new leases were issued: one to the traditional owners through their Murramulla Gurindji Company and another to Vestey Brothers. The Gurindji strike was instrumental in heightening the understanding of First Nations land ownership in Australia and was a catalyst for the passing of the Aboriginal Land Rights Northern Territory Act , the first legislation allowing for a claim of title if the First Nations claimants could provide evidence for their traditional relationship to the land.

In September the Gurindji claim for native title to Wave Hill station was granted, 54 years after the walk-off that helped to spark Australia's First Nations land rights movement. Vincent Lingiari, Australian Dictionary of Biography.

The National Museum of Australia acknowledges First Australians and recognises their continuous connection to country, community and culture.

See our classroom resource. Vincent Lingiari, I bin thinkin' this bin Gurindji country. We bin here longa time before them Vestey mob. Vincent Lingiari beside a plaque marking the handing over of the lease in Wattie Creek. Dispossession The Gurindji people had lived on their homelands in what is now the Victoria River area of the Northern Territory for tens of thousands of years when in the colonial government granted almost 3, square kilometres of their country to the explorer and pastoralist Nathaniel Buchanan.

Exploitation From legislation required that in return for their work, First Nations peoples in the Northern Territory should receive food, clothes, tea and tobacco. Strike action The Buchanan family had sold what was then called Wave Hill station to the international meat-packing company Vestey Brothers in In June the Governor-General replied that he was unwilling to grant the lease.

Recognition The coming to power of the Labor Party in changed the political landscape. Curriculum subjects. Year levels. Explore Defining Moments. Sun, Nov 14, Adult learners of all levels can explore programs inspired by the gardens, exhibitions and our magnificent location on the Hudson River.

Engage with Wave Hill staff and visiting experts in a wide variety of programs throughout the year, from talks and walks to lectures and workshops. Our nature and art programs for children and families inspire curiosity, persistence, creativity and resilience that sets the stage for lifelong learning. Festive special event weekends offer a range of activities for all ages based on seasonal themes. Rigorous and engaging on-site and off-site programs for school groups and professional learning opportunities for teachers provide nature-based programs with curricular connections to science, social studies and the arts.

Our paid internships for high school and college-aged students prepare participants for future studies and careers related to community engagement, environmental stewardship and education.

The pond stiffens and the white field over which the fox runs so quickly brings out its long blue shadows. The wind wags its many tails. And in the evening the piled firewood shifts a little, longing to be on its way. Australian people were starting to take notice and think differently.

Cattle and farming destroyed Indigenous water, food sources and livelihoods. Indigenous people were forced to work on the Station in order to receive rations and avoid starvation. The working conditions for the Indigenous labourers were extremely poor; they rarely received wages, were beaten or even killed for defying the landowners, and the women were often terribly abused.

On the 23rd of August , Vincent Lingiari led courageous Wave Hill workers and their families, to walk off the Station and begin their strike. The group formed a new settlement at nearby Wattie Creek Daguragu. Initially, the pastoralists believed the workers would return with improved wages and conditions.

But the focus of the strike moved from workers' rights to land rights. In the Gurindji submitted a petition to the Governor General asking for their land back. The petition included a map of sacred places on the land claimed and detailed the evolution of Gurindji myths and dreaming associated with these sites. Despite extremely difficult conditions, the workers and their families continued to strike. They did not waiver for nine years. While his people camped, and waited, Lingiari toured Australia to lobby politicians and galvanise support.

The strike made headlines all over Australia. There was a readiness amongst non-Indigenous communities to stand alongside Indigenous people and demand justice.