AustLit logo
BlackWords Historical Events Calendar
Significant Dates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
(Status : Subscribers Only)
Coordinated by BlackWords Team
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.
  • 2006-2010

    2006

    Vivienne Cleven wins the Kate Challis RAKA Award for Creative Prose for her two distinctive and accomplished novels, Bitin' Back and Her Sister's Eye. These works challenge stereotypes and give a previously unexpressed voice to Indigenous experience in rural Queensland.

    Tara June Winch wins the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, Prize for Indigenous Writing for Swallow the Air, and is shortlisted for Arts the Queensland Steele Rudd Australian Short Story Award, and the Age Book of the Year Award, Fiction Prize. Tara is highly commended in the FAW Christina Stead Award and commended in the Kate Challis RAKA Award. She receives special mention in the Manning Clark House National Cultural Awards, Individual Category and is nominated in the Deadly Sounds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music, Sport, Entertainment and Community Awards, Outstanding Achievement in Literature.

    Gayle Kennedy wins the David Unaipon Award for Me, Antman, and Fleabag.

    Wesley Enoch's play, The Story of the Miracles at Cookie's Table, is produced in Tokyo as part of the Dramatic Australia Festival at the Repertory Theatre KAZE. Performed in Japanese with translation by Keiji Sawada and Rei Sudo.

    Ruby Langford Ginibi wins Australia Council Grants, Awards and Fellowships, Writers' Emeritus Award.

    Author and columnist Stephen Hagan is awarded National NAIDOC Person of the Year.

    Vince Ross is awarded National NAIDOC Elder of the Year (Male).

    Essayist Judy Tatow is awarded National NAIDOC Elder of the Year (Female).

    Ten Canoes is the first feature film in Australia to be made entirely in an Aboriginal language (although narrated in English). Renowned actor David Gulpilil is the storyteller.

    Indigenous nurse and mentor Sally Goold is named Senior Australian of the Year.

    On 28 January, Warren Mundine, who is a member of the Bundjalung nation, succeeds Barry Jones as President of the Australian Labor Party. He becomes the first Indigenous Australian to serve as President of an Australian political party and serves one term as national President, stepping down in 2007.

    2007

    May 25: The 1967 Referendum is commemorated around Australia including a panel of writers at the Sydney Writers Festival with Anita Heiss, Richard Frankland, Ruby Langford Ginibi, Aden Ridgeway and Lilian Holt.

    June: The Intervention

    'In response to the Northern Territory Report into sexual abuse – called Ampe Akelyernemane Meke Makarle (Little Children are Sacred) – the Howard Government announced a national emergency in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.

    The Government's 'Intervention' involved sending police and the army into remote communities, alcohol bans, winding back Aboriginal land rights under the NT Aboriginal Land Rights Act, health checks for Aboriginal children and the quarantining of welfare payments in 73 Aboriginal communities.

    With the exception of some prominent Aboriginal commentators, Aboriginal groups strongly condemned the Intervention. The authors of the Little Children are Sacred Report also spoke out against it, arguing that its heavy handed, top-down approach was inconsistent with the recommendations in the report.

    Forty Aboriginal organisations put forward an alternative proposal for urgent action based on consultation and partnerships with local Aboriginal communities, welfare organisations and women's groups. This proposal was ignored and, with the support of the former Labor Opposition, the Northern Territory Intervention went ahead.'

    Source: http://reconciliaction.org.au/nsw/ (Sighted: 15/4/09)

    Tara June Winch wins the Nita May Dobbie Award, and the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, UTS Award for New Writing for Swallow the Air. Tara is joint winner in The Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelist of the Year, and is shortlisted in the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA), Australian Newcomer of the Year.

    Alexis Wright wins the Miles Franklin Literary Award, for Carpentaria. For the same epic novel she wins the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal, the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, The Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction, the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, The Age Book of the Year Award, Fiction Prize, the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, Best Fiction Book, the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA), Australian Literary Fiction Book of the Year. Carpentaria was also shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers Prize, South East Asia and South Pacific Region, Best Book, and was nominated for the Deadly Sounds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music, Sport, Entertainment and Community Awards, Outstanding Achievement in Literature.

    Anita Heiss wins the Scanlon Prize for Indigenous Poetry for her collection I'm Not Racist, But ... a collection of social observations. She also wins the Deadly Sounds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music, Sport, Entertainment and Community Awards, Outstanding Achievement in Literature for her novel Not Meeting Mr Right.

    Elizabeth Hodgson wins the David Unaipon Award for Skin Painting.

    Richard Frankland's Digger J Jones is nominated for the Deadly Sounds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music, Sport, Entertainment and Community Awards, Outstanding Achievement in Literature.

    Jane Garlil Christophersen is nominated for a Deadly Sounds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music, Sport, Entertainment and Community Awards, Outstanding Achievement in Literature for Kakadu Calling: Stories for Kids.

    Wesley Enoch's play The Story of the Miracles at Cookie's Table is produced by Griffin Theatre Company at SBW Stables Theatre, Sydney, directed by Marion Potts.

    Tammy Anderson's solo show Itchy Clacker is presented by Ilbijerri Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Theatre at the Melbourne Comedy festival at the Powder Room, Melbourne Town Hall.

    BlackWords is officially launched at Sydney Writers Festival by Anita Heiss, Larissa Behrendt and Tara June Winch. A plenary session on BlackWords and teaching Indigenous literature is held at the annual Association for the Study of Australian Literature conference at The University of Queensland in July.

    Ruby Langford Ginibi wins National NAIDOC Awards, Elder of the Year (Female).

    Playwright, actor, and director Leah Purcell is awarded the National NAIDOC Artist of the Year.

    The documentary Kanyini, the story of author and storyteller Bob Randall is voted 'best documentary' at the London Australian Film Festival.

    Fiona Doyle's biography of her grandmother Whispers of this Wik Woman, premiers at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Brisbane, produced by Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts Company.

    Sam Watson makes his playwriting debut with The Mack, written in association with the Brisbane-based Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts Company, and first performed at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Brisbane.


    2008

    In an historic act of reconciliation on the first full day of the 42nd Parliament of Australia, the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd offers an apology. See also: The Apology to the Stolen Generations.

    The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature is published by Allen & Unwin and brings together for the first time 81 Aboriginal writers, songwriters, playwrights, poets, social commentators, journalists, cultural activists and political heroes in one volume. Marking the evolution of Aboriginal literature in English from Bennelong's letter in 1796 right through to Alexis Wright's Carpentaria (2006), the anthology is targeted at the education sector with an on-line teachers' guide designed to assist use of the book in the classroom. The book has been published in Canada by McGill-Queens for the North American market and Norton in the UK.

    Yvette Holt won the Scanlon Prize for Poetry and the Victorian Premier's Prize for Indigenous Writing for her poetry collection Anonymous Premonition.

    Tara June Winch was awarded the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative Literature Mentorship - to be mentored by Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka

    The second national Indigenous Literacy Day was held to raise much needed funds for literacy projects in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. Dr Anita Heiss, Alexis Wright and Tara June Winch are ILD Ambassadors.

    Marcia Langton was awarded the Alfred Deakin Prize for an Essay Advancing Public Debate at the 2008 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards for her essay 'Trapped in the Aboriginal Reality Show' published in Griffith Review.

    Dallas Winmar wrote and Wesley Enoch directed, the play, 'Yibiyung'. Presented at Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney, the cast included: Jada Alberts, Jimi Bani, Sibylla Budd, Annie Byron, Russell Dykstra, Roxanne McDonald, David Page, Melodie Reynolds and Miranda Tapsell

    Written by Scott Rankin and co-creator/key performer Trevor Jamieson, 'Ngapartji Ngapartji' was presented at the Belvoir St Theatre, in Sydney.

    Marie Munkara won The David Unaipon for her collection of stories, 'Every Secret Thing'.

    Anita Heiss & Peter Minter won the 2008 Deadly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Literature for the Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature.

    Written by Rachel Perkins, Louis Nowra and Beck Cole, The First Australians television series chronicles the birth of contemporary Australia from the perspective of its first people. Over seven episodes the series explores the impact of invasion and colonisation on the oldest living culture in the world.

    US Democratic Senator Barack Obama is elected the first Black President of the United States of America, prompting celebrations across the USA and amongst Indigenous peoples in Australia.

    Patrick Dodson is awarded the Sydney Peace Prize.

    At its meeting of 30 March, 2008, the Committee of Management of the Australian Society of Authors elected Dr Anita Heiss as the ASA’s new Chair. Dr Heiss is a member of the Wiradjuri nation of central New South Wales and is one of Australia’s most prolific and well-known authors of Indigenous literature.

    The Spirit Festival was first held in Adelaide and was named in recognition of the spirit of sport, the spirit of the arts and most importantly the spirit of our people and our culture.

    In July Yolgnu and Bininj clans across Arnhem Land presented Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd with a statement calling on the government to 'work towards constitutional recognition of our prior ownership and rights'. In accepting the communiqué, the Prime Minister pledged his support for recognition of Indigenous peoples in the Constitution.

  • 2009

    Born out of an idea in 2006 for a National Indigenous Development Centre, the Indigenous Land Corporation, with the support of the local community, purchased the land where the Redfern Public School had operated for over a hundred years. The centre was officially incorporated as the National Indigenous Development Centre in 2008, and in 2009, became the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence. Wiradjuri man Jason Glanville was brought on as Chief Executive Officer to lead the Centre’s development.

    The Big Fella Festival is an Indigenous music festival held at the beginning of the year at Falls Creek, on top of the Victorian Alps. It aims to showcase local traditional owner culture.

    Prime Minister Julia Gillard struck a deal to form government with Independent MP Rob Oakeshott and the Greens that included a commitment to hold a referendum on constitutional recognition by the 2013 election. An expert panel was appointed to advise on a model and process. It reported in January 2012. In September 2012, Labor announced it would delay the referendum, citing concern at low levels of public awareness. (from recognise.org.au)

    Herald-Sun columnist Andrew Bolt was found to have contravened Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act after publishing articles in 2009 referring to high profile Indigenous Australians as choosing their Aboriginal identities for the purpose of career and political clout. Those who took legal action included author and lawyer Larissa Behrendt, artist Bindi Cole, author Anita Heiss, activist Pat Eatock, as well as lawyer and academic Mark McMillan.

    Namatjira, the life story of landscape artist Albert Namatjira’s was told in theatre at Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney. It was written by Scott Rankin and co-directed by Rankin and Wayne Blair, Namatjira was played by Trevor Jamieson.

    Warwick Thornton won the Kate Challis RAKA Award for the script for the feature film Samson and Delilah (2009).

    Jessica Mauboy won a swag of Deadly Awards including Single Release of the Year for Burn, Album Release off the Year for Been Waiting. She was also awarded Female Artist of the Year.

    The Deadly Award for Male Artist of the Year went to Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu.

    At the Deadly Awards ceremony, the Jimmy Little Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music went to Seaman Dan from the Torres Strait.

    AFL legend and former Sydney Swans player Michael O’Loughlin took out the Deadly Award for Male Sportsperson of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in AFL.

    Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, Stephen Page won the Deadly Award for Achievement in Theatre or Live Performance.

    Lorraine McGee-Sippel won the Deadly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Literature for her memoir Hey Mum, What’s a Half-caste? Published by Magabala Books.

    The Deadly Award for Female Actor of the Year went to Leah Purcell.

    Children's author and teacher May O’Brien received the Deadly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Education.

    The Deadly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health went to Chicka Dixon.

    Michael Dodson appointed Australian of the Year.

    United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples -

    'The Australian Government formally supported the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This reversed Australia's previous opposition to the Declaration. Under the Coalition Government, Australia was one of four countries that voted against the Declaration when it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2007.

    The Declaration is a set of principles which describe equality, non-discrimination, partnership, consultation and cooperation between Indigenous peoples and governments. It is a comprehensive standard on human rights for Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration is not legally binding and it does not compel governments to certain actions. Rather, it is an aspirational human rights instrument that explicitly encourages harmonious and cooperative relations between governments and Indigenous peoples.

    Article 46 of the Declaration states that the 'Declaration shall be interpreted in accordance with the principles of justice, democracy, respect for human rights, equality, non-discrimination, good governance and good faith'.'

    Source: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/index.htm (Sighted: 15/4/09)

    Larissa Behrendt is awarded the National NAIDOC Award for Person of the Year.

    Elsie Heiss is joint winner of the National NAIDOC Award for Elder of the Year (Female).

    Lowitja O'Donohue is awarded the National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement

    Yirra Yaakin Noongar Theatre tours 'Muttacar Sorry Business', a unique performance work tackling the high incidence of road trauma amongst Indigenous communities written by David Milroy and Michelle Torres.

    Windmill Baby written and directed by David Milroy is the story of Maymay, an Aboriginal woman who returns to the deserted Kimberley cattle station that was her home 50 years ago. A one-woman redemption piece told in Indigenous voices, with the endearing characters of Wun-man, Two-man, Aunty Darbella and old Maymay, this play is delivered with the poetry of a campfire storyteller. The production is toured through schools by Yaakin Noongar Theatre.

    2010

    The Honourable Ken Wyatt was elected as the first Indigenous member of the federal House of Representatives. Wyatt, of Noongar, Yamitji and Wongi heritage, won the seat of Hasluck for the Liberal Party. His maiden speech, delivered on 29 September 2010, is available on the Parliament of Australia website.

    Jeanine Leane won the Queensland Premier's Literary David Unaipon Award for her manuscript 'Purple Threads'. Leane also wins the Scanlon Prize of Indigenous poetry for her poetry anthology, 'Dark Secrets After Dreaming: A.D. 1887-1961'.

    Leni Shilton's 'Thoughts of the Desert' wins the Dymocks Red Earth Poetry Award and Renato Marocchini wins the Dymocks Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Writers' Award for Guilty.

    In June, renowned playwright and director Wesley Enoch is announced as the new Artistic Director for the Queensland Theatre Company making him the first indigenous head of a state theatre company in Australia.

    The National Congress of Australia’s First People’s is established with its headquarters in Redfern, Sydney.

    Long term advocate for Aboriginal rights, Nyungar man Professor Dennis Eggington is awarded the NAIDOC Person of the year for 2010.

    National NAIDOC Elder of the Year (Male) was shared by Ali Drummond (known for his work in the pearling industry and lawn bowls) and Lester Bostock, best known for his work in film and television.

    National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Vince Coulthard. Vince had been the Director of South Australia’s only Aboriginal Radio Station, the Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association, for 16 years and was Director of the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS).

    The film version of Jimmy Chi’s Aboriginal musical Bran Nue Dae wins the Deadly Award for Film of the Year.

    The Deadly Award for Live Production of the Year went to The Sapphires – the play.

    Deborah Mailman is awarded Deadly Female Actor of the Year.

    The Deadly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Literature went to Anita Heiss for her novel Manhattan Dreaming.

    Archie Roach was awarded the Deadly Album Release of the Year for 1988.

    Yvette R. Holt won the Kate Challis RAKA Award for the poetry collection Anonymous Premonition (University of Queensland Press, 2008).

You might be interested in...

X