civil rights movement cont..

Federal Aboriginal Land Rights Act – 1976

Gave Gurindji and other Indigenous groups legal title to their land; first official recognition of Aboriginal land ownership

Freedom Rides – 1965

Protest against segregation led by Charlie Perkins and mostly non-Indigenous students; targeted RSLs in Walgett and pool in Moree; lasted 15 days and received media coverage

Referendum

A public vote used to amend the Australian Constitution

When were First Nations people given the right to vote?

1962

1967 Referendum – May 27

Allowed Aboriginal people to be counted in the census and gave the federal government power to make laws for them; 90% voted “yes”

What did the 1967 referendum remove?

Section 127 – “Aboriginal natives shall not be counted” as people of the Commonwealth

What contributed to the “Yes” vote in 1967?

Media coverage, both political parties endorsed the ‘yes’ vote, 8000 - 10 000 Aboriginal people voted