The native title sub-section will begin with a definition of the concept, as well an explanation on how it evolved as the Government’s response to land rights and what it encompasses. The first display will be on terra nullius and its association with Aboriginal ownership. Following on from this will be a major display on the Mabo decision and Eddie Mabo - a figure with highly significant impacts on native title legislation and rights – and the resulting Native Title Act 1993. This display will also feature impacts this legislation had on the community because although it was a step forward in land rights, only a small proportion of land could be claimed according to criteria.
Following this will be displays on native title in the years after the Mabo decision, featuring specific groups of people who were involved in native title cases and their personal stories and struggles such as the Wik people (1996), the Ward case (2002) and the Yorta Yorta community (2002). There will be a primary focus on personal stories of individual groups or people rather than specific events in history.
Personal experiences will be used as primary sources in this section, as well as images and objects retained from that point in time. This is so that rather than learn through successive historical time periods, visitors can learn about land rights and native title through more memorable, engaging and personal stories that will have a greater impact than the traditional museum display. In addition to the historical information presented, included in the information will be reference to the impacts that these individuals and events had on the Indigenous community in today’s society, to reflect the overall direction of the museum.