2017

1. 8 February Land & land rights

   The Federal Court rules that Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA) can only be registered if they are signed by all registered Native Title Claimants who are “named applicants”, replacing a previous court decision that allowed registration without all named applicants having signed the ILUA (called the McGlade decision).

2. 14 February Protest

   The Co-Chairs of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and prominent Aboriginal leaders from across Australia formally present the Redfern Statement to parliamentary leaders in Canberra.

2018

1. February Sport

   First Nations skater Harley Windsor becomes the first Aboriginal Australian to compete at the Winter Olympics when he joins the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where he finishes 18th with his skating partner Katya Alexandrovskaya.

2. 16 February Treaty

   The South Australian government signs the Buthera Agreement, a formal agreement with the people of the Narungga nation (Yorke Peninsula), believed to be a first step towards a state based treaty. The agreement commits both parties to negotiate for treaty over the next three years and includes a commitment from the government to provide support to Narungga people in economic and community development work. The name comes from the Narungga Dreaming of Buthera, a giant man demonstrating his strength, resilience and passion towards his people. ^[1]

3. 22 February Arts

   Ganalbingi man and artist Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr, from the remote community of Gapuwiyak in the Northern Territory, wins the inaugural Kestin Indigenous Illustrator Award.

2019

1. 26 February Recognition

   The ACT government "recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia's first people" in its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019–2028. It also recognises First Nations peoples right to self-determination and the importance of land. The Agreement sets a ten-year direction for the government's handling of First Nations affairs in four "core areas" and six "significant areas" of work. This agreement builds on the previous 2015 agreement.

2020

1. 11 February Politics Prison

   The Australian High Court rules that Aboriginal people cannot be deported even though the two men in the court's case were born overseas, only had permanent residency and never applied for Australian citizenship. The government wanted to deport them because both were convicted of crimes.

   The court found that Aboriginal people have a special cultural, historic and spiritual connection to Australia which is inconsistent with them being considered "aliens" in the meaning of the Australian constitution.

2. 22 February Sport

   

   NFL player Josh Addo-Carr, before the Indigenous All-Stars match with the Maori All-Stars, lifts his shirt and points to his skin in a gesture akin to Nick Winmar's in 1993 to show his pride in his Aboriginality and remind fans of the Aboriginal history of Australia.

2021

1. February Remains repatriation

   The Israel Museum in Jerusalem returns more than 1,800 artefacts including stone tools, grindstones, and other material. Carl Shipman of Melbourne donated the collection to the Israel Museum in the 1970s.

2. 20 February Arts

   Fists of Fire, Bruce's Lee's kung fu classic from 1972, becomes the first feature film ever to be re-voiced in an Australian Aboriginal language as Fist of Fury Noongar Daa.

2023

1. 2 February Arts Recognition

   The Reserve Bank of Australia announces that it will update the $5 banknote to feature a new design that honours the culture and history of the First Australians. The new design will replace the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The other side of the $5 banknote will continue to feature the Australian Parliament. ^[2]

   I welcome the decision taken by the independent Reserve Bank to ensure that the new $5 note recognises and celebrates the culture and history and heritage of Indigenous Australians.

   — Jim Chalmers, Treasurer ^[3]

2. 7 February Sport Stamps

   In its Sporting Treasures issue, Australia Post publishes one stamp showing the tennis racket of Evonne Goolagong Cawley, the first Aboriginal person to compete in international tennis.

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References