Mer is Eddie Mabo's birthplace and the home of the Meriam people. Mabo and his fellow plaintiff's fought for land on Mer - their ancestral gardens and home. Meriam history and culture were crucial to the success of the Mabo case.
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Choose from the list of topics on the left and then choose 'Click to Play'. Topics are usually less than 2 minutes long.
...We are closed in a box...
Text
1936
Chief Protector of Aborigines, Mer, Murray Island, pearling industry, Protection Act, strike
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
Scales from the eyes of justice
Text
Jun, 22, 1992
High Court judgement, land rights, Mabo Case, Mer, Murray Island
The islander migration
Text
1945-
employment, James Cook University, language, Mabo, Edward Koiki, migration, pearling industry, Queensland, Torres Strait Islanders, World War 2
...only a handful of black teachers...
Audio and Image
1973
James Cook University, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Townsville
...the fastest railway line builders in the world...
Text
1973
James Cook University, Mabo, Edward Koiki, migration, Queensland, railways
...the only thing we had was the land...
Text
childhood, land ownership, Las, Mabo, Benny, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo, Maiga, Mabo's Garden
...we were being exploited...
Image and Text
1953-57
Department of Native Affairs, Exile, 1952, pearling industry, Queensland
White beliefs were not the only ones
Text
gardening, land disputes, land use, Las, Mabo, Benny, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo's Garden, Mer
...Growing up on Murray...
Image and Text
1936-52
childhood, education, language, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mer, Meriam Mer, Miles, Robert 'Bob'
...12 months exile...
Text
1951
Chief Protector of Aborigines, Department of Native Affairs, exile, Exile, 1952, gaol, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mer, Murray Island Council, pearling industry, Protection Act
...my father told me...
Text
1986-89
Brisbane, evidence, gardening, hearsay, Mabo, Benny, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo v Queensland No.1, plaintiffs
...June 3rd 1992...
Video
1992
High Court Decision, 03/06/1992, High Court judgement, human rights, Land Bilong Islanders, land ownership
...Eddie Mabo's tombstone opening...
Image and Text
Jun, 3, 1995
ceremony, desecration, Mabo, Bonita, Tickner, Robert, tombstone ceremony, Townsville
Las - 1890s**
Image
1888
Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, Haddon, A.C., Las, Las, London Missionary Society
Malo Dance from Mabo film
Video
1995
ancestors, Las, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Malo dance, Malo's laws, reburial, sacred
...I'm plaintiff for this court case...
Video
1989
human rights, Land Bilong Islanders, Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo v Queensland No.1, Murray Island, Passi, Reverend Dave, plaintiffs, Rice, James
Crown Land
Topic
colonisation, doctrine of tenure, indigenous Australians, International law, native title, New South Wales, sovereignty, terra nullius
...since time immemorial...
Video
annexation, Land Bilong Islanders, Mabo v Queensland No.1, Mer, Murray Island
...clearly defined boundaries...
Video
1989
inheritance, Land Bilong Islanders, land boundaries, land ownership, McIntyre, Greg, Mer, Murray Island
...A tiny island...
Video
High Court of Australia, Land Bilong Islanders, Mabo Case, plaintiffs, reconciliation, terra nullius
Eddie Koiki Mabo - JCU lectures with sardine scoop
Image
1970s
James Cook University, Mabo, Edward Koiki, sardine scoop, Townsville, weris
Mer, Waier & Dauar
Topic
Dauar, Dauar, HMS Pandora, Mer, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Meriam history, Murray Island, Waier
Sardine fishing
Video
fishing, Great Barrier Reef, Land Bilong Islanders, Meriam culture, sea claims, sea rights, weris
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
Bakir Auski - Tombstone Opening 1995
Topic
Jun, 3, 1995
Bakir Auski, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo family, mourning, tombstone, tombstone unveiling, Townsville
The Best Of Two Cultures
Topic
1973-1985
Black Community School, cultural preservation, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Meriam culture, multiculturalism
Exile
Topic
1953-1957
activism, exile, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mer, Mer, Murray Island, Murray Island Council, pearling industry, Torres Strait
Gardener At James Cook University
Topic
1967-1975
activism, Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, employment, James Cook University, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Townsville
A Voyage to Terra Australis
Text
1814
canoes, european contact, Flinders, Matthew , Mer, sea, Torres Strait
...Owning the stars, wind and sea...
Video
inheritance, Land Bilong Islanders, Malo's laws, Mer, Murray Island, ownership
...When the tide goes out...
Video
fish traps, fishing, Land Bilong Islanders, Mer, Murray Island, sea claims, sea rights, Wailu, Jack, witnesses
Shell friends
Text
1875-1905
Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, London Missionary Society, Malo, Papua New Guinea, sea routes, seafarers, trade
...I use nature for my book...
Text
calendar, canoes, gardening, housing, Mer, Meriam culture, Passi, Sam, Stars of Tagai, yams
Malo Dance 1967
Video
1967
dancing, Land Bilong Islanders, Las, Malo, Malo dance, Malo's laws, Meriam culture, sacred
...It's a Yam...
Video
food gathering, gardening, Land Bilong Islanders, land use, Meriam culture, yams
Elders Demonstrating a range of traditional skills, Native Title Week, Mer
Image
Jun, 4, 1997
Meriam culture, traditional skills
...As Willed by my Father...
Text
1989
evidence, inheritance, land ownership, No Ordinary Judgement, Noah, Gobedar, witnesses
...my ancestors been name all the lands...
Video
ancestors, evidence, Land Bilong Islanders, land boundaries, Meriam culture, plaintiffs, Rice, James
...He's got no claim for this land...
Video
Depoma, Marwer, evidence, inheritance, Land Bilong Islanders, land disputes, land ownership, Sebeg, witnesses
Letters of E.K. Mabo to Mr. Marwer Depoma
Text
inheritance, land boundaries, land ownership, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Sebeg, witnesses
...ancestors handed down to this generation now...
Text
ancestors, evidence, fish traps, land disputes, Las, Sagigi, Victor, witnesses
Murray Island Court
Video
inheritance, Land Bilong Islanders, land boundaries, land disputes, Malo's laws, Murray Island Council, Murray Island Native Court, property, Queensland Government
...there goes my dust...
Text
Day, Ron, fish traps, fish traps, land ownership, sea rights, trespass
...before you go catch fish...
Video
fish traps, Land Bilong Islanders, Malo's laws, Noah, Kaba, wasikor
...swim with the same kind...
Image and Text
clans, evidence, Mabo Case, Malo's laws, No Ordinary Judgement, Wailu, Jack, witnesses
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
...Isn't he the same as the Indian's Great Spirit?...
Video
Christianity, clans, Land Bilong Islanders, London Missionary Society, Malo, Malo's laws
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
Tag mauki mauki, teter mauki mauki
Video
Land Bilong Islanders, Malo's laws, Noah, Kaba, tag mauki mauki, trespass, wasikor
...Malo wali ariat sem areet arreet...
Video
ancestors, evidence, Land Bilong Islanders, Mabo Case, Malo, Malo's laws, Passi, Sam, tag mauki mauki, witnesses
...I've heard from many witnesses...
Video
1989
evidence, Keon-Cohen, Bryan, Land Bilong Islanders, Malo's laws, McIntyre, Greg, Meriam Mer, tag mauki mauki, trespass, witnesses
...It's against Malo's law...
Text
1989
Mabo, Edward Koiki, Malo's laws, property law, tag mauki mauki, trespass
...you must be like Bezar...
Text
bezar, Las, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Meriam culture, tag mauki mauki, trespass
...an increased zest to life...
Image and Text
1888
ancestors, anthropology, Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, Haddon, A.C., Malo, Meriam culture
...unlocks the sea...
Text
ceremony, Christianity, clans, Kaddy, George, Malo, meriam calendar, turtles
Tagai Myth
Image and Text
Dauar, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Stars of Tagai, Tagai, Torres Strait
Douglas Pitt descendants
Image and Text
colonisation, Hayes, Bully, Kennedy, Flo, Mer, pearling industry, Pitt, Douglas, Stars of Tagai, Torres Strait Islanders
60 Days Notice
Text
May, 11, 1882
Mimi, Marou, Murray Island, Papua New Guinea, pearling industry, Pitt, Douglas, Torres Strait Islanders, trade
Coming of the Light Stone at Erub (Darnley Island)
Image
Jul, 1, 1871
Christianity, Erub Island, London Missionary Society
Conversions
Text
1871-
anthropology, Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, ceremony, Christianity, Malo, Malo dance, religion, Stars of Tagai, wasikor
...Let us remember Christ died for us...
Video
ceremony, Christianity, Land Bilong Islanders, Malo, Passi, Reverend Dave
...I think it came very strongly...
Image and Text
1871-
Christianity, Malo, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Passi, Reverend Dave, Stars of Tagai
Proclamation of Annexation
Image
Jul, 19, 1979
annexation, colonisation, crown land, doctrine of tenure, land ownership, Mer, Queensland Government, terra nullius
...the laws of the white man...
Text
Dec, 19, 1879
annexation, colonial rule, crown land, Erub Island, european contact, Flinders, Matthew , Kebisu, Murray Island, pearling industry, Tutu Island
Napoleon B. Tibi
Video
Keon-Cohen, Bryan, Land Bilong Islanders, land boundaries, land disputes, land ownership, McIntyre, Greg, Mer, Murray Island Council, Sebeg
...records of those fights about land...
Text
1898-1999
clans, Day, Ron, land disputes, land ownership, Malo's laws, Mer, missionaries, Murray Island Native Court, tribes
Murray Island School - LMS
Text
1897
anthropology, Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, education, London Missionary Society, Murray Island, school
...a passion for accuracy...
Image and Text
1888-1908
anthropology, Bruce, Jack, Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, Haddon, A.C., London Missionary Society, Mer, Torres Strait, Torres Strait Islanders
...No One to Help Me But You...
Text
1914
anthropology, Bruce, Jack, Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, Haddon, A.C., Mer
...their 'title deeds' to lands...
Image and Text
Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, dari, Gove, Gove Case, Haddon, A.C., head dresses, land ownership, Mabo Case, Mer, Yolgnu
E. K. Mabo and A.C. Haddon
Image and Text
1967-1975
Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, gardening, Haddon, A.C., James Cook University, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Townsville
Removal of Murray Island School
Image
Jan, 30, 1903
Mer, Queensland Government, school, Stars of Tagai
...Living under the Protector...
Audio and Image
1930s-1980
Chief Protector of Aborigines, Kennedy, Flo, Mer, Queensland Government
...king without a crown....
Text
1930s-1980
Mer, Meriam history, Murray Island Council, Passi, Sam, Protection Act
The Native Problem in Queensland
Text
1937
Department of Native Affairs, Mer, Protection Act, strike, Torres Strait
Marou Mimi Diary
Image and Text
Mabo Case, Mer, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Murray Island, Stars of Tagai
Chief Protector of Aboriginals to Protector
Image and Text
Aug, 17, 1937
Chief Protector of Aborigines, Meriam history
Origin and Cause of Discontent
Text
1936
Chief Protector of Aborigines, Christianity, pearling industry, Protection Act, Sharp, Dr. Nonie, strike, Torres Strait Islanders
Diver's Lament
Audio
language, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabuiag Island, pearling industry, songs, Torres Strait Islanders
Tombstone Unveiling Ceremonies
Text
burial, Sharp, Dr. Nonie, Stars of Tagai, tombstone unveiling, Torres Strait, Torres Strait Islanders
John Singe On World War 2
Text
army, Singe, John, Torres Strait, Torres Strait Islanders, Torres Strait Light infantry battalion, war, World War 2
...We treated like white men in the Army...
Text
army, Singe, John, Torres Strait Islanders, Torres Strait Light infantry battalion, war, World War 2
Torres Strait Soldiers
Image
1940s
army, soldiers, Torres Strait Islanders, Torres Strait Light infantry battalion, war, World War 2
P.J. (Pat) Killoran
Text
1948-1980
Department of Aboriginal & Islander Affairs (DAIA), Department of Native Affairs, exile, Mer, Queensland
The Border Problem
Text
international border, politics, Queensland, Singe, John, Torres Strait, Torres Strait Islanders, treaties
...Silence all stand please...
Video
1989
Great Northern expedition, Land Bilong Islanders, Mabo Case, Moynihan, Justice Martin, Murray Island, Supreme Court of Queensland
Islanders appearing for Qld
Video
barristers, Depoma, Marwer, inheritance, Land Bilong Islanders, land disputes, land ownership, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Queensland Government, White, Margaret, witnesses
...this is our reef...
Text
Dauar, land boundaries, land ownership, No Ordinary Judgement, property, sea, Sharp, Dr. Nonie
Food For Our People
Text
1989-1998
Croker Island, Day, Ron, fishing, food gathering, land ownership, Mer, Moynihan, Justice Martin, ownership, Passi, Reverend Dave, plaintiffs, property law, Rice, James, sea, Supreme Court of Queensland
Maritime Boundaries of the Murray Islands
Image
map, No Ordinary Judgement, sea, sea claims, sea rights, Sharp, Dr. Nonie, Torres Strait
Turtle Hunting Great Barrier Reef
Video
food gathering, Great Barrier Reef, hunting, Land Bilong Islanders, sea claims, sea rights, seafarers, turtles
...dexterous sailors and formidable warriors...
Text
fishing, High Court of Australia, maber, Mabo Case, Mabo Case, sea, sea rights, seafarers, warriors
The Haddon map of Mer
Image
1935
Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, clans, Haddon, A.C., land boundaries, map, Mer, tribes
Land Boundaries
Topic
boundary markers, clans, inheritance, land ownership, land use, oral tradition
Meriam Land Disputes
Topic
Dauar, Depoma, Marwer, land boundaries, land ownership, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Malo's laws, Malo's laws, Mer, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Murray Island Native Court, sea rights, trespass, Waier
Indigenous People & Their Land
Topic
custom, indigenous people, land ownership, land rights, land use, sacred
...Piadaram clansmen...
Video
clans, Land Bilong Islanders, Las, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Piadaram, Sagir - Trade Winds, Wailu, Jack
Belonging To Country
Topic
aborigines, Australia, dreamtime, indigenous Australians, land ownership, land rights, sacred
A Humanitarian Tradition
Topic
Australia, colonialism, Cook, Captain James, First Fleet, humanitarians, land rights, terra nullius
Charity & Sovereignty
Topic
1840s
aborigines, Australia, land ownership, New South Wales, Queen Victoria, reserves, sovereignty
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
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
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
Murray Island Annexation
Topic
1879
annexation, colonisation, conquest, International law, Mabo Case, Mer, Murray Island, Queensland, terra nullius
Customs Old & New
Topic
Bakir Auski, indigenous Australians, Mer, Meriam culture, tombstone ceremony, Torres Strait Islanders
Defending Territories & Making Peace
Topic
Depoma, Marwer, land boundaries, land disputes, land ownership, Las, Mabo Case, Mer, Meriam culture, Papua New Guinea
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'
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
Pearl Fishers & Their Times
Topic
colonisation, fishing, pearling industry, sea rights, Torres Strait Islanders
Recent Changes To International Law
Topic
decolonisation, human rights, International law, Racial Discrimination Act , 1975 , treaties, United Nations
Striking Back
Topic
1880-1936
Mer, Murray Island, pearling industry, strike, Torres Strait Islanders
The Age Of Paternalism
Topic
Chief Protector of Aborigines, colonisation, Federation, International law, paternalism, protection, terra nullius, White Australia Policy
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 Story Of Malo
Topic
Malo, Malo's laws, Malo-Bomai, Mer, Meriam culture, Meriam culture, religion, religion
Order Of The Court
Text
1992
Brennan, Justice Gerard, crown land, Dawson, Justice, Deane, Sir William, Gaudron, Justice Mary, High Court judgement, High Court of Australia, Mabo judgement, Mabo v Queensland No.2, Mason, Chief Justice Anthony, McHugh, Justice Michael, Mer, native title, Order of the Court, Toohey, Justice
Deputy Chief Protector
Text
Feb, 22, 1936
Chief Protector of Aborigines, Meriam history, Protection Act, racism
Murray Islands Archaeological Project
Image and Text
May, 1999
archaeology, Mer, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Murray Island
Rehearsal of Malu songs at Las
Image
1898
anthropology, Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, Haddon, A.C., Las, Mer, Meriam history
C. O'Leary to Chief Protector of Aboriginals
Image
Oct, 9, 1936
Chief Protector of Aborigines, Queensland Government, White Australia Policy
Property And Inheritance
Text
Cambridge Anthropological Expedition, inheritance, land ownership, Meriam culture, property