Vincent Lingiari
Encyclopedia
Vincent Lingiarri, AM
(1908 – 21 January 1988), was an Aboriginal
rights activist who was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to the Aboriginal people. Lingiarri was a member of the Gurindji
people. In Vincent's earlier life he worked as a stockman
at Wave Hill Cattle Station. He also played the didgeridoo
. Vincent was elected and became the leader of the Gurundji communities in August 1966.
In 1966, Lingiarri, a member of the Gurindji who had worked at Wave Hill, and recently returned from a period of hospitalisation in Darwin
, led a walk-off of indigenous employees of Wave Hill as a protest against the work and pay conditions.
While there had been complaints from Indigenous employees about conditions on Wave Hill over many years, including an inquiry during the 1930s that was critical of Vestey's employment practices, the walk-off had a focus that was aimed at a wider target than Vestey's. Before 1968 it was illegal to pay an indigenous worker more than a specified amount in goods and money. In many cases, the government benefits for which Indigenous employees were eligible were paid into pastoral companies’ accounts, rather than to the individuals.
The protesters established the Wattie Creek Camp and demanded the return of some of their traditional lands. So began the eight-year fight by the Gurindji people to obtain title to their land.
The strike lasted 9 years. Over that time, support for Aboriginal rights grew as the struggle intensified. The protest eventually led to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976. This act gave indigenous Australians freehold title to traditional lands in the Northern Territory and, significantly, the power to negotiate over mining and development on those lands, including what type of compensation they would like.
An important and symbolic event in Australian history occurred when, during an emotional ceremony in 1975, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
poured the local sand into Vincent Lingiarri's hands and handed the Wave Hill station back to the Gurindji people.
Vincent Lingiarri was a leader and holder of the cultural authority of the Gurindji people. His fight for his people’s rights – to the custodian
ship and ownership of their land and the capacity to practise their law, culture and language – made him a national figure.
Vincent Lingiarri confronted the vast economic and political forces that were arrayed against him and his people. In doing so, he won a victory that is one of the most outstanding achievements in the history of the struggle for the recognition of Indigenous people, their rights and responsibilities in the land, and their ability to practice their law, language and culture.
One of Australia's largest electorates is named after Vincent. The Division of Lingiari
encompasses nearly all of the Northern Territory as well as Christmas Island
and the Cocos Islands
.
The story of Vincent Lingiarri was celebrated in the song From Little Things Big Things Grow
written by Paul Kelly
and Indigenous musician Kev Carmody
and recorded by Kelly in 1991.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(1908 – 21 January 1988), was an Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
rights activist who was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to the Aboriginal people. Lingiarri was a member of the Gurindji
Gurindji people
Gurindji are a group of Indigenous Australians living in northern Australia, 460 km southwest of Katherine in the Northern Territory's Victoria River region....
people. In Vincent's earlier life he worked as a stockman
Stockman
In Australia a stockman is a person who looks after the livestock on a large property known as a station, which is owned by a grazier or a grazing company...
at Wave Hill Cattle Station. He also played the didgeridoo
Didgeridoo
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago and still in widespread usage today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe"...
. Vincent was elected and became the leader of the Gurundji communities in August 1966.
Wave Hill Walk-Off
Wave Hill Cattle Station is located approximately 600 km south of Darwin in the Northern Territory. From the late nineteenth century it was run by the British pastoral company, Vesteys. Vesteys employed the local Indigenous people, the Gurindji, to work on Wave Hill. But working conditions were extremely poor and wages were very low when compared to those of non Indigenous employees.In 1966, Lingiarri, a member of the Gurindji who had worked at Wave Hill, and recently returned from a period of hospitalisation in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, led a walk-off of indigenous employees of Wave Hill as a protest against the work and pay conditions.
While there had been complaints from Indigenous employees about conditions on Wave Hill over many years, including an inquiry during the 1930s that was critical of Vestey's employment practices, the walk-off had a focus that was aimed at a wider target than Vestey's. Before 1968 it was illegal to pay an indigenous worker more than a specified amount in goods and money. In many cases, the government benefits for which Indigenous employees were eligible were paid into pastoral companies’ accounts, rather than to the individuals.
The protesters established the Wattie Creek Camp and demanded the return of some of their traditional lands. So began the eight-year fight by the Gurindji people to obtain title to their land.
Land Rights Act and Handback
The Wave Hill strike would eventually reshape the agenda of relationships between indigenous Australians and the wider community. Although initially an employee-rights action, it soon became a major federal issue when the Gurindji people demanded the return of their traditional lands.The strike lasted 9 years. Over that time, support for Aboriginal rights grew as the struggle intensified. The protest eventually led to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976. This act gave indigenous Australians freehold title to traditional lands in the Northern Territory and, significantly, the power to negotiate over mining and development on those lands, including what type of compensation they would like.
An important and symbolic event in Australian history occurred when, during an emotional ceremony in 1975, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
poured the local sand into Vincent Lingiarri's hands and handed the Wave Hill station back to the Gurindji people.
Vincent's legacy
Vincent Lingiarri died on 21 January 1988. Every year until then he attended the Gurindji’s annual re-enactment of the walk-off.Vincent Lingiarri was a leader and holder of the cultural authority of the Gurindji people. His fight for his people’s rights – to the custodian
Custodian
The term Custodian may refer to:* Janitor, a person who cleans, maintains, provides security and initiates repairs or makes minor repairs to buildings.* Custodian bank, an organization responsible for safeguarding a firm's or individual's financial assets...
ship and ownership of their land and the capacity to practise their law, culture and language – made him a national figure.
Vincent Lingiarri confronted the vast economic and political forces that were arrayed against him and his people. In doing so, he won a victory that is one of the most outstanding achievements in the history of the struggle for the recognition of Indigenous people, their rights and responsibilities in the land, and their ability to practice their law, language and culture.
One of Australia's largest electorates is named after Vincent. The Division of Lingiari
Division of Lingiari
The Division of Lingiari is an Australian Electoral Division in the Northern Territory. It was created in 2000, out of the former Division of Northern Territory. It covers almost the entire Territory , an area of , making it the second largest electorate in terms of area in Australia...
encompasses nearly all of the Northern Territory as well as Christmas Island
Christmas Island
The Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. It is located northwest of the Western Australian city of Perth, south of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, and ENE of the Cocos Islands....
and the Cocos Islands
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
The Territory of the Cocos Islands, also called Cocos Islands and Keeling Islands, is a territory of Australia, located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Christmas Island and approximately midway between Australia and Sri Lanka....
.
The story of Vincent Lingiarri was celebrated in the song From Little Things Big Things Grow
From Little Things Big Things Grow
"From Little Things Big Things Grow" is a rock protest song recorded by Australian artists Paul Kelly & The Messengers on their 1991 album Comedy, and by Kev Carmody on his 1993 album Bloodlines. It was released as a CD single by Carmody and Kelly in 1993 but failed to chart...
written by Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (musician)
Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
and Indigenous musician Kev Carmody
Kev Carmody
Kevin Daniel "Kev" Carmody is an Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter. His song "From Little Things Big Things Grow" was recorded with co-writer Paul Kelly for their 1993 single; it was covered by the Get Up Mob in 2008 and peaked at #4 on the Australian Recording Industry Association singles...
and recorded by Kelly in 1991.