Edward Koiki Mabo

Edward Koiki Mabo was an Indigenous Australian from the Torres Strait Islands who became a pivotal figure in Australian history by challenging and changing the legal recognition of land rights for Aboriginal people. In 1992, his efforts led to the landmark High Court decision known as the Mabo Case, which acknowledged that Indigenous Australians have a unique and ongoing connection to their land that predates colonial law. This ruling overturned the concept of `Terra Nullius` (land belonging to no one) and paved the way for Native Title legislation, empowering Indigenous communities to claim and manage their traditional lands.