Director Trevor Graham made Land Bilong Islanders in 1989 during the Mabo land title case, with the full co-operation of Eddie Mabo, his family and the people of Murray Island. This 37 minute adaptation includes footage from Trevor's later biography of Eddie Mabo; Life Of An Island Man.
The film has been cut into chapters and can be viewed in its entirety (Entire Land Bilong Islanders online film). To view; click on a chapter in the list on the left and then choose 'Click to Play'. Chapters are typically less than 2 minutes long.
The film has been cut into chapters and can be viewed in its entirety (Entire Land Bilong Islanders online film). To view; click on a chapter in the list on the left and then choose 'Click to Play'. Chapters are typically less than 2 minutes long.
Malo Dance
Topic
Sep, 19, 1995
ceremony, dancing, Las, Mabo, Benny, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo family, Mabo, Maiga, Malo dance, Malo's laws, Mer, Meriam culture, Murray Island, reburial, sacred
Moynihan's Findings
Topic
Dec, 16, 1990
adoption, inheritance, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo v Queensland No.1, Moynihan, Justice Martin, Moynihan's findings
Crown Land
Topic
colonisation, doctrine of tenure, indigenous Australians, International law, native title, New South Wales, sovereignty, terra nullius
Gove Case
Topic
1971
aborigines, Blackburn, Justice, Gove, Gove Case, Gove Peninsula, McIntyre, Greg, Nabalco, Yirrkala
Mer, Waier & Dauar
Topic
Dauar, Dauar, HMS Pandora, Mer, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Meriam history, Murray Island, Waier
Adoption
Topic
Jun, 29, 1936
adoption, gardening, inheritance, Las, Mabo, Benny, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo, Maiga, Mer, Mer, Meriam Mer, Murray Island, Sambo, Poipe, Sambo, Robert
Ancient & Modern Ways
Topic
Great Barrier Reef, Mer, Murray Island, native title, reef, sea claims, sea rights, Subkaur Island
Benny & Maiga's Son
Topic
Jan, 2, 1992
Brisbane, cancer, death, diaries, inheritance, Mabo, Benny, Mabo, Eddie Jnr., Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo, Maiga
Desecration
Topic
Jun, 3, 1995
backlash, desecration, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo family, tombstone, Townsville
High Court Victory
Topic
Jun, 3, 1992
Australia, Canberra, death, High Court judgement, High Court of Australia, High Court victory, land ownership, Mabo, Edward Koiki, native title
Land Rights Conference
Topic
1981
conference, James Cook University, land rights, land rights, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Townsville
Malo Dance 1967
Video
1967
dancing, Land Bilong Islanders, Las, Malo, Malo dance, Malo's laws, Meriam culture, sacred
Property & Inheritance
Topic
Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, inheritance, land ownership, Meriam culture, property
The Malo-Bomai myth
Text
Las, Malo dance, Malo's laws, Malo-Bomai, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Papua New Guinea, sacred, Stars of Tagai, Torres Strait
Malo Ceremonial Dance 1898
Video
1898
Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, ceremony, Haddon, A.C., Land Bilong Islanders, Las, Malo dance, Malo's laws, Meriam culture
Malo ceremonial dance as drawn by A.C.Haddon
Image
1898
ceremony, Haddon, A.C., Malo's laws, Meriam culture, songs
Land Boundaries
Topic
boundary markers, clans, inheritance, land ownership, land use, oral tradition
Indigenous People & Their Land
Topic
custom, indigenous people, land ownership, land rights, land use, sacred
International Comparisons
Topic
British law, Canada, colonialism, Common Law, High Court of Australia, Mabo Case, native title, New Zealand (Aotearoa), United States of America
US Domestic Dependent Nation Doctrine
Topic
1823
indigenous people, International law, treaties, United States of America
Aboriginal Rights & Title In Canada
Topic
1973-1982
Aboriginal Title, Canada, First Nations Canada, native title, treaties, United States of America
Other Jurisdictions
Topic
1973
colonisation, Common Law, High Court of Australia, Mabo Case, native title, Papua New Guinea
Native Title's Vulnerability In Australia
Topic
extinguishment, High Court of Australia, indigenous people, land ownership, native title, political reaction, politics, Racial Discrimination Act
Legislation In Australia After Mabo
Topic
1990s
indigenous people, land rights, Mabo Case, Mabo judgement, mining, native title, Native Title Act (1993), pastoralism, political reaction
The Native Title Act
Topic
Oct, 1, 1992
1967 referendum, Court, Richard, Keating, Paul, Mabo Case, Mabo judgement, mining, National Farmer's Federation, native title, Native Title Act (1993), pastoralism, politics
The '10 Point Plan'
Topic
1996
10 point plan, backlash, Canberra, extinguishment, High Court of Australia, Howard, John, Liberal - National Party coalition, Native Title Act (1993), Wik
Indigenous Working Group & Amendment Bill
Topic
1997
10 point plan, Australian Democrats, Australian Labor Party, backlash, coexistence, Howard, John, National Indigenous Working Group, Native Title Act (1993), Native Title Amendment Bill
The Native Title Amendment Bill
Topic
Jul, 7, 1998
10 point plan, backlash, native title, Native Title Amendment Bill, political reaction, sunset clause
Native Title After The Murray Islands
Topic
1990s
aboriginal law, Mabo judgement, Native Title Act (1993), sovereignty
Native Title & Industry
Topic
1996-1998
mining, native title, Native Title Act (1993), Native Title Amendment Bill, pastoral industry, pastoral lease, Wik
Learning To Live With Native Title
Topic
Cowley, Camilla, De Crispegny, Robert Champion, mining, native title, Normandy Mining, pastoralism, reconciliation
An Expression Of Sovereignty
Topic
Jun, 3, 1992
High Court of Australia, Mabo judgement, native title, self determination, self-government, sovereignty
The Politics Of Native Title
Topic
1992-
citizenship, equality, human rights, land rights, national identity, native title, political reaction, politics
The Benefits Of Native Title
Topic
1992-
Common Law, equality, human rights, indigenous people, Mabo judgement, national identity, native title, social justice
Australia In The Eyes Of The World
Topic
1992-
Australia, Australia, Australian International Relations, human rights, indigenous people, International law, national identity, native title, social justice
The Reshaping Of National Identity
Topic
1992-
backlash, decolonisation, indigenous people, national identity, native title, reconciliation
Belonging To Country
Topic
aborigines, Australia, dreamtime, indigenous Australians, land ownership, land rights, sacred
Colonial Warfare
Topic
1788-1929
Australia, colonial warfare, colonialism, colonists, genocide, land rights, martial law, massacres, Tasmania, war, Warlpiri
A Sacred Landscape
Topic
aboriginal property ownership, anthropology, Australia, clans, dispossession, kinship, land ownership, religion, sacred
Yirrkala
Topic
1976
Arnhem Land, bark petition, Blackburn, Justice, Gove, Gove Case, Kakadu National Park, Marika, Roy, Northern Territory, Yirrkala, Yolgnu, Yunupingu, Galarrwuy
Increasing Popularity Of Land Rights
Topic
1960s
Aboriginal Advancement League, Australian Labor Party, land rights, politics, Whitlam, Gough
Tent Embassy
Topic
1972
activism, Australian Labor Party, Foley, Gary, land rights, resistance, tent embassy, Whitlam, Gough
The Whitlam Government & Land Rights
Topic
1972-1975
Australian Labor Party, land rights, Whitlam, Gough
Northern Territory Land Rights Act
Topic
1975
Aboriginal Land Rights Act (Northern Territory)(1976), Australian Labor Party, Fraser, Malcolm, land rights, Northern Territory, Whitlam, Gough
A Challenge To The Established Law
Topic
Apr, 3, 1987
Canberra, High Court of Australia, native title, Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act , 1985 , sovereignty, terra nullius
Extinguishment Of Native Title
Topic
Brennan, Chief Justice Gerard, claim, crown land, extinguishment, native title, plaintiffs, Radical Title, Supreme Court USA
The Murray Islanders' Evidence
Topic
1986
evidence, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Murray Island, plaintiffs, witnesses
Eddie Mabo's Evidence & The Hearsay Hurdle
Topic
Feb, 1987
evidence, hearsay, Mabo, Edward Koiki, oral evidence, oral tradition, plaintiffs
The Laws Of Malo
Topic
indigenous law, Malo's laws, Malo-Bomai, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Murray Island, religion, sacred, sacred
Malo's Law
Topic
Malo's laws, Malo-Bomai, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Murray Island, religion, sacred
Sea Claims
Topic
Federal Government, Australia, fish traps, fishing, Great Barrier Reef, Meriam culture, sacred, sea rights
More Arguments About Hearsay
Topic
1987-1989
evidence, hearsay, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Meriam culture, Moynihan, Justice Martin, oral evidence, oral tradition, plaintiffs, Supreme Court of Queensland
The Great Northern Expedition
Topic
1989
Mabo, Edward Koiki, Moynihan, Justice Martin, Murray Island, Supreme Court of Queensland
A Mountain Of Evidence
Topic
1990
Brisbane, Mabo Case, Meriam culture, Moynihan, Justice Martin, Moynihan's findings
...Moynihan's Findings (Video)...
Video
1990
High Court of Australia, Land Bilong Islanders, land ownership, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Meriam culture, Moynihan, Justice Martin, Murray Island
In The High Court For The Last Time
Topic
1991
High Court of Australia, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo v Queensland No.2
The High Court Decides!
Topic
Jun, 3, 1992
High Court of Australia, Mabo judgement, Mabo v Queensland No.2
A Meriam Calendar, Ancient & Modern
Topic
fishing, food gathering, gardening, Mer, Meriam culture, Murray Island
Las
Topic
Las, Las, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Malo, Mer, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Murray Island, Piadaram, Zogo le
Aboriginal & Treaty Rights In Aotearoa - NZ
Topic
1840
Common Law, Maori, native title, New Zealand (Aotearoa), Privy Council, Treaty of Waitangi, 1840
Bases For Takeovers
Topic
Jun, 3, 1992
Australian Labor Party, barbarism, Brennan, Justice Gerard, terra nullius, Whitlam, Gough
Britain's Acquisition Of Sovereignty
Topic
1879
Britain, colonisation, Mabo Case, Mer, plaintiffs, sovereignty
Common Law Rules For New English Territories
Topic
Britain, Britain, British law, Common Law, conquest, International law
Defending Territories & Making Peace
Topic
Depoma, Marwer, land boundaries, land disputes, land ownership, Las, Mabo Case, Mer, Meriam culture, Papua New Guinea
Failure To Agree On The Facts
Topic
1982-1986
High Court of Australia, Mabo Case, plaintiffs, Queensland, Supreme Court of Queensland
General Principles Of Native Title
Topic
aboriginal law, Common Law, native title, Native Title Act (1993)
GovernmentAuthority
Topic
1879
assimilation, Mer, Murray Island, Murray Island Council, Murray Island Native Court, Queensland, school
Human Rights
Topic
human rights, International law, Mabo judgement, Racial Discrimination Act , 1975 , United Nations
In Meriam Waters
Topic
fishing, Great Barrier Reef, Meriam culture, sea rights, seafarers, Torres Strait
Land Bilong Islanders - Mabo
Topic
Great Northern expedition, land ownership, Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Malo's laws, Mer, Meriam culture, Moynihan, Justice Martin, Murray Island, sea rights
Land Disputes
Topic
clans, Depoma, Marwer, inheritance, land disputes, land ownership, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Murray Island Native Court
Mabo Case Commences
Topic
1982
claim, High Court of Australia, Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, plaintiffs
Meriam Mir
Topic
Black Community School, education, language, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Meriam culture, Meriam Mer, Miles, Robert 'Bob'
Justice Moynihan's Findings
Topic
Nov, 16, 1990
Mabo, Edward Koiki, Moynihan, Justice Martin, Moynihan's findings, Supreme Court of Queensland
Murray Island Council
Topic
annexation, Murray Island Council, Murray Island Native Court, Queensland
Murray Island School
Topic
1890s
annexation, education, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Miles, Robert 'Bob', Queensland, school
Native Title & Indigenous Law
Topic
aboriginal law, Malo's laws, native title, Native Title Act (1993), sacred
Other Lands Settled By The British
Topic
Canada, colonisation, Common Law, native title, New Zealand (Aotearoa), treaties, Treaty of Waitangi, 1840 , United States of America
Recent Changes To International Law
Topic
decolonisation, human rights, International law, Racial Discrimination Act , 1975 , treaties, United Nations
Sovereignty & Ownership Distinguished
Topic
land ownership, Mabo judgement, native title, sovereignty
Terra Nullius & Australia
Topic
crown land, dispossession, doctrine of tenure, First Fleet, land rights, resistance, terra nullius
Great Northern Expedition
Topic
1989
Great Northern expedition, Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mer, Moynihan, Justice Martin, Murray Island, Supreme Court of Queensland
The Coming Of The Light
Topic
Jul, 1871
Christianity, London Missionary Society, missionaries, Murray Island, religion
The Doctrine Of Tenures Reconsidered
Topic
crown land, doctrine of tenure, land rights, Mabo judgement
The Gove Case
Topic
1967-1972
Arnhem Land, Australian Court Case, bark petition, Blackburn, Justice, Gove, Gove Case, land rights, Marika, Roy, Milirrpum v Nabalco Pty Ltd, 1971 , mining, Nabalco, Northern Territory, Yirrkala
The Gove Decision Questioned
Topic
1971
Arnhem Land, Australian Court Case, bark petition, Blackburn, Justice, Canada, Gove, Gove Case, land rights, Milirrpum v Nabalco Pty Ltd, 1971 , mining, Nabalco, Northern Territory, Yirrkala
High Court Challenge - WA vs Commonwealth
Topic
1995
backlash, Court, Richard, mining, native title, Native Title Act (1993), pastoral industry, WA v Commonwealth, Western Australia
The Mabo Case
Topic
1982-1992
High Court of Australia, International law, Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, terra nullius
The Sea That Belongs To The Land
Topic
fish traps, fishing, Great Barrier Reef, sea rights, seafarers
The Townsville Conference
Topic
1981
James Cook University, Land Rights Conference, 1981, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Townsville
Working On His Boat
Topic
1991
Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo family, Moynihan, Justice Martin, Townsville
Tent 'Embassy' defiant
Newspaper
Mar, 4, 1972
activism, Canberra, land rights, land rights, tent embassy, Whitlam, Gough
The judiciary has done its duty
Newspaper
Jan, 20, 1997
Common Law, High Court judgement, Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, native title, terra nullius, Wik
Premiers push partial extinguishment
Newspaper
Jan, 22, 1997
backlash, Court, Richard, extinguishment, native title, Western Australia
Give blacks a living area: Mining Lobby
Newspaper
Jan, 22, 1997
AMEC (Assoc' of Mining & Exploration Co's), apartheid, backlash, Federal Government, Australia, industry, mining, native title, racism
One small step becomes giant leap
Newspaper
Jan, 22, 1997
Mabo, Edward Koiki, Queensland Government, Wik
The Story Of Malo
Topic
Malo, Malo's laws, Malo-Bomai, Mer, Meriam culture, Meriam culture, religion, religion
Property And Inheritance
Text
Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, inheritance, land ownership, Meriam culture, property