2010

1. 13 February Sport

   The Indigenous All Stars team plays the National Rugby League All Stars, two years after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations.

2. 17 February Arts

   Singer and actress Ruby Hunter dies of a heart attack aged 54.

3. 23 February Recognition

   The Queensland Parliament amends the Constitution of Queensland to include a preamble recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians. The preamble now reads: “The people of Queensland, free and equal citizens of Australia… honour the Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians, whose lands, winds and waters we all now share; and pay tribute to their unique values, and their ancient and enduring cultures, which deepen and enrich the life of our community…”

4. 24 February Northern Territory Intervention

   The final report of the UN's special rapporteur on Indigenous rights, Professor James Anaya, finds the intervention limits the rights and freedoms of Indigenous people in breach of Australia's international obligations.

2011

1. February Reconciliation

   Australia Post becomes the first government business enterprise to create a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). It celebrates it with the release of an invitation-only commemorative stamp featuring Ellen Pangerian (1847-1877), also known as Helen Mary Cuper, who was the first Aboriginal post mistress in Australia.

2. 2 February Land & land rights

   Cyclone Yasi crosses over north Queensland causing billions of dollars of damage. Palm Island loses its over 100-year-old Old Fig Tree, a story place of the community. People as far as 700 km away feel the force of the storm which triggers the biggest domestic deployment of the defence forces.

3. 7 February Northern Territory Intervention

   Respected elders, a former prime minister and other non-Aboriginal 'elders' sign a statement against the ongoing Northern Territory intervention criticising its "discriminatory" nature and the "failure of democratic processes".

   We have had enough! We need our independence to live our lives and plan our futures without the constant oppression and threats which have become central to the relationship between government and Aboriginal communities.

   — NT elders in their statement ^[1]

   

2012

1. February

   Gadigal-Wirradjuri man Matthew Myers becomes the first Aboriginal Australian to be appointed to the bench of the federal court.

2. 14 February Stolen Generations

   Three former Aboriginal children’s homes are added to the NSW State Heritage RegisterCootamundra, Bomaderry Aboriginal Children’s Home and Kinchela Aboriginal Boys Training Home.

3. 25 February Northern Territory Intervention

   A Senate Committee reports back to government. The committee had travelled to Hermannsburg , Alice Springs, Maningrida and Darwin to record Aboriginal people's evidence as to the harm that had been done to them by the intervention and their rejection of the new Stronger Futures legislation. Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin, who had asked for the Senate Inquiry, subsequently overrides the findings by bringing in an early vote.

   This unsavoury process shows just how little government cares about the views of Aboriginal people or about working in partnership with NT Aboriginal leaders.

   — Michelle Harris, journalist ^[3]

4. 28 February Northern Territory Intervention

   

   The Stronger Futures legislation passes through the lower house. Among the new measures is a potential jail term of 6 months for the possession of a single can of beer, and 18 months for more than 1.35 litres of alcohol.

2013

1. 4 February Stolen Generations

   The Supreme Court of Western Australia in Perth begins a "landmark" Stolen Generations test case which started in 2010 when law firm Lavan Legal lodged a Writ on behalf of 9 members of the Collard family, including parents Donald and Sylvia, whose children were removed without consent and placed in state care between 1958 and 1961 ^[4].

2. 13 February Recognition

   The Australian Parliament passes with bi-partisan support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Bill 2012 which recognises the unique and special place of Aboriginal people and sets out a review process to progress the route to a referendum.

2015

1. 1 February Politics

   Nunukul-Nughi woman Leeanne Enoch is set to become the first Aboriginal woman elected to Queensland Parliament.

2. 9 February Protest

   Aboriginal people commence a sit-in in Canberra at Parliament House to confront politicians about the state of Aboriginal affairs around the country. They demand that the Commonwealth of Australia begins negotiations towards decolonisation with the goal of healing from the “devastation wreaked upon Aboriginal Nations and Peoples” by violations of human rights.

3. 13 February Protest

   Aboriginal activist Faith Bandler dies, aged 96. She was a tireless social activist, best known for her 10-year campaign leading the landmark 1967 referendum that ensured Aboriginal Australians were counted as full citizens.

4. 23 February Arts

   Yaegl woman Pauline Clague wins the 2015 Stanley Hawes Award for her extensive work in championing and producing the works of Australia’s emerging and Aboriginal filmmakers. Pauline was the Aboriginal training officer at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School from 2009 to 2013, developing more than 35 courses around Australia and training 650 Aboriginal people.

5. 28 February Stolen Generations

   Third progress scorecard of the Stolen Generations Working Partnership.

2016

1. 3 February Treaty

   A meeting of 500 Aboriginal leaders in Victoria rejects constitutional recognition and passes a motion demanding that the state “resources a treaty process, including a framework for treaties, with complete collaboration with all Sovereign Peoples and Nations”. ^[5]

2. 26 February Treaty

   The Victorian government commits to begin talks to work out Australia's first treaty with Aboriginal people.^[6] The treaty aims for

   • Recognition of past injustices
   • Recognition of all 39 First Nations and their clans authority
   • Recognition of and respect for country, traditions and customs
   • A futures fund to implement and establish the treaty
   • Establishment of a democratic treaty commission
   • Land rights and land acquisition legislation and funding
   • Fresh water and sea water rights

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References