Indigenous Australians Celebrate 50 Years Since First Land Rights bid

Traditional owners in Australia's Northern Territory are commemorating 50 years since the first bid for recognition of land rights.

In 1963, indigenous leaders in East Arnhem Land launched the 'Bark Petitions', which eventually paved the way for those rights, primarily mining royalties.

While communities across far northern Australia remember the historic milestone, they say there's more to be done and they accuse the Government of dragging its feet on a vote for constitutional recognition of the indigenous population.

Traditional elder Bakamumu Marika was a teenager when his dad Roy Marika fought against a proposed bauxite mine on their land at Yirrkala in east Arnhem Land.

“He inspired me. He stood up there in front of the rest of his clansmen and said that he would challenge.

The Yolngu people worked together on what's known as the Bark Petitions, documents to the Commonwealth made of traditional text and painting on pieces of bark.

The Federal Government accepted the unique petitions but denied their request.

Three years later, a further court case acknowledged the ritual and economic rights of the land for the first time in Australia.

“There wouldn't be land rights if my father wouldn't have stood up and challenged.”

Today the bauxite mine and refinery are now run by Rio Tinto Alco and the community relies on the economic benefits.

This week, as part of NAIDOC celebrations, locals are commemorating 50 years since the historic Bark Petitions, which once tried to prevent the development.

But locals say the 50th anniversary is a timely reminder of the other work that's yet to be done.

“We must take this legacy, move with it further and see if Australia can recognise the first Indigenous in the Australian Constitution.”

Rosie Pearson grew up in east Arnhem Land and moved to Sydney, but returns on a regular basis for special occasions.

She says the legacy of the Bark Petitions gives motivation for today's Indigenous leaders to go further and ask for constitutional inclusion.

“It goes back to when, you know, when black fellas were considered just flora and fauna and had no rights; not the ability to vote or anything like that. It's the same. It's what every single human person should be - recognized by the law, by the government.”

Community leaders plan to raise the issue with the Prime Minister while he's in Arnhem Land, but Rosie Pearson says other groups from around the country also need voice their concerns.

“You've got the (inaudible) mob in far north New South Wales who have recently declared themselves a republic. You know, they're really pushing I think the envelope in terms of that kind of stuff as well. So you can't just say like one particular place is going to push it. I think it's the collective energy of people and different nations from all over Australia that are going to push it together.”

And while the adults of Yirrkala prepare the town for a flood of political visitors, the young people are making petitions of their own.

“Alcohol is not good. It takes money away from families. They come back and then have fights with families. It breaks families. I would like that we have more safe houses.”

This week's visit by the Prime Minister is the second in as many weeks and the traditional owners say they're expecting him to return next month.