The document discusses the history of Aboriginal land claims in Australia. It describes how Aboriginal people lost their land after European settlement, as the Europeans did not recognize Aboriginal land ownership and claimed the land as empty under the doctrine of Terra Nullius. Additionally, from 1909 to 1969, the Australian government took around 100,000 mixed-race Aboriginal children from their families in a policy of forced assimilation known as the Stolen Generation. Later land rights laws and court cases like Mabo and Wik have helped overturn the doctrine of Terra Nullius and allow some Aboriginal land claims, though these groups still face challenges in having their land ownership recognized.

1. Aboriginal Land Claims
Ch. 32, Sec. 1

2. Aboriginal People Lose Land
• Lived as hunters and gatherers
• Europeans thought they had no ties to the
land because they did not farm, mine or
build on it
• Declared it Terra Nullius = empty land

3. Aboriginal People Lose Land
• Europeans started settling most fertile land
in 1788
• Aboriginal people fought, but Europeans
had superior weapons
• Aboriginals were forced onto reservations
or lived on the edge of settlements and
adopted European ways

4. Stolen Children
• 1909 – 1969, Australian government took
100,000 mixed race children and gave
them to white families to promote
assimilation
• Those children are called the Stolen
Generation

5. Land Claims
• Land Rights Act of 1976 gave Aboriginal
people the right to claim land in the
Northern Territory
• Gave them ownership of the reserves

6. The Mabo Case
• Eddie Mabo – lived on the Murray Islands
• High court granted him ownership of his
land because his family had worked it for
generations
• Decision overthrew the doctrine of Terra
Nullius

7. The Wik Case
• Wik people claimed land that was being used by
ranchers and miners
• 2 unique issues
– Gov’t owned land and ranchers leased it
– Aboriginal people had to prove ties to the land
• Hard to prove ties, but court said Aboriginal
people could claim land under a pastoral lease
• Decision was amended later to wipe out many
Aboriginal claims and protect white Australians