Traditional Owner groups and First Nations organisations will be supported to enable better economic outcomes for communities through land and sea rights in a newly formed First Nations-led partnership.
The establishment of the Mabo Centre was announced today by the University of Melbourne and the National Native Title Council, with the purpose of maximising the economic, social and cultural benefits of these rights by building leadership skills and knowledge to advance successful agreement-making.
First Nations youth will also be supported to become community leaders and drive economic change in their communities.
Co-Chair of the Mabo Centre and Chief Executive Officer of the National Native Title Council, Mr Jamie Lowe, said the Centre creates new opportunities for Traditional Owners.
"The Mabo decision was handed down 33 years ago, starting the recognition of native title in law," Mr Lowe said. "However as Traditional Owners, we have known for over 65,000 years that we have rights to Country. It's time that native title met the needs of Traditional Owners and can continue to do so for generations.
"The Traditional Owner sector is rich with experience, knowledge and leadership but, as we know, those skills need to be supported so that they can create real economic value in communities. The Mabo Centre provides a pathway for considering those opportunities."
Professor Marcia Langton, Co-Chair of the Mabo Centre and Associate Provost of the University of Melbourne, said the Mabo Centre would be governed under a collaborative partnership model, bringing together the sector and academia to translate native title rights into economic prosperity.
"The Mabo Centre was conceived after a long period of consultation through the National Native Title Council and its members, to understand the challenges and barriers to self-determination and economic prosperity through land and sea rights.
"A collaborative partnership underscores a shared commitment to enhancing First Nations-led economic development opportunities, an essential precursor in achieving broader social equity goals."
With the Mabo family generously gifting the Mabo Centre its name, the Centre honours the legacy of Dr Eddie Koiki Mabo as a campaigner for land and sea rights and economic development and the forefather of native title.
"Dr Eddie Koiki Mabo's contributions have had an enduring influence on the landscape of Australian law and society, and inspired generations of First Nations activists and leaders in their fight for recognition and rights to country. The Mabo Centre will support the next generation to continue this work," Mr Lowe said.
The Mabo Centre welcomes Rio Tinto as its founding partner.
The Mabo Centre will undertake research to identify best practices, deliver training to strengthen and share knowledge and develop local leadership skills. It will work closely with Traditional Owners and communities to ensure the benefits of land and sea rights are fully realised by providing a network of First Nations-led leadership to share knowledge and expertise.
Over time, this will ensure better support of community aspirations and provide opportunities for economic development and entrepreneurship on Country.
The Mabo Centre will be guided by a Board of First Nations leaders and economic experts, Co-Chair Jamie Lowe and alternate Co-Chairs Professor Marcia Langton and Professor Paul Kofman; and newly appointed Director, Professor Eddie Cubillo.
A reference to the artwork, from Gail Mabo
In honour of my father this is my first mixed media artwork titled Mabo. Through this work I wanted to convey the extraordinary memory of Edward Koiki Mabo's fight and pay tribute to his culture and the importance of cultural connection to the place he called home, the Island of "Mer".
The law the of Malo was the power of proof of cultural connection to Country.
"Benny Mabo, my Father was the Sixteenth generation and I'm Koiki Mabo, Seventh generation of proud warriors who conquered and settled in Mer."
The words on the canvas demonstrate his unending dedication towards a fight that ultimately took his physical life however now live eternally through his handwritten words.
Reflected in his last diary entry is his profound love for his wife Bonita Mabo the most beautiful woman in his life, his dearly beloved children and his people.
This man fought with sheer determination to achieve the most important fight for Indigenous Australia to the highest court in the land and won.
This man is called Eddie Koiki Mabo.
Gail Mabo
