What was the purpose of the 1938 Day of Mourning protest?
The protesters’ intention was to bring awareness of their plight to non-Indigenous Australians, in order to gain support for their proposal to dismantle the Protection Boards then operating, and extend full citizen rights to Aboriginal people.
What happened in the Day of Mourning protest?
They mourned the loss of their country, their freedom and self-determination, and the deaths of so many of their kin. The protest was organised by Jack Patten, William Ferguson and William Cooper, who had been instrumental in establishing lobby groups in New South Wales and Victoria.
Was the 1938 Day of Mourning protest successful?
The ‘Day of Mourning and Protest’ made an impact, achieving both media attention and an agreement by the Prime Minister to receive a deputation of delegates. The day also saw an appalling contrast. Aboriginal organisations in Sydney refused to participate in the government’s re-enactment of the events of January 1788.
Who led the 1938 Day of Mourning protests?
Jack Patten chaired the meeting and was joined on stage by Bill Ferguson, Doug Nicholls, William Cooper and Jack Kinchela. About a hundred people attended including Margaret Tucker, Selina Patten (Jack’s wife), Pearl Gibbs, Jack Johnson, Mrs F.
What happened on January 26th in Australia?
Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and raising of the Union Flag by Arthur Phillip following days of exploration of Port Jackson in New South Wales.
Why did the Aboriginal go on strike?
Hundreds of Aboriginal pastoral workers left their work for better pay and conditions in May 1946, paralysing sheep stations. The strike was organised with no phones or radios and lasted until 1949, the longest strike in Australia’s history.
Who opposed the Day of Mourning?
The Day of Mourning protest was organised by the Aborigines Progressive Association (APA), based in New South Wales and led by its founders Jack Patten and William Ferguson. The protest leaders also had support from the Australian Aborigines’ League (AAL), based in Victoria and led by William Cooper.
What did William Ferguson do?
William Ferguson founded the Aboriginal Progressive Association and led protests at the 1938 National Day of Mourning. He would become one of the most famous and important Aboriginal rights activists in Australian history.
What are Indigenous Australian called?
And if you are talking about both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it’s best to say either ‘Indigenous Australians’ or ‘Indigenous people’. Without a capital “a”, “aboriginal” can refer to an Indigenous person from anywhere in the world. The word means “original inhabitant” in Latin.