Aboriginal Veterans Denied Land After World Wars, Inquiry Reveals Ongoing Injustice

The Yoorrook Justice Commission, a truth-telling inquiry in Victoria, Australia, has uncovered the discriminatory treatment faced by Aboriginal veterans who were denied land upon their return from the First and Second World Wars. The commission heard testimony from Ngarra Murray, the descendant of an Aboriginal veteran, whose grandfather, Wamba Wamba elder Stewart Murray, was denied land despite fighting for Australia in World War II.

Victorian government minister Natalie Hutchins acknowledged the 'disgraceful' way returned First Nations soldiers were treated and the ongoing effects on their families. The commission also highlighted the trauma experienced by Aboriginal communities when land from reserves like Coranderrk and Lake Condah was taken and redistributed to non-Aboriginal returned soldiers.

The commission has called for the government to address this historic injustice, but Minister Hutchins indicated that any solution would need to be worked on with the federal government, as the original scheme was a joint responsibility between the Commonwealth and states.

Why this matters: The revelation of this ongoing injustice faced by Aboriginal veterans and their families underscores the need for truth-telling and reconciliation efforts in Australia. Addressing historic wrongs and discrimination against Indigenous Peoples is crucial for healing and moving forward as a nation.

The denial of land to Aboriginal veterans is part of a broader pattern of injustice and unresolved issues faced by Indigenous Peoples, despite important achievements over the past decade to improve their well-being, safeguard their cultures, and expand their participation at the United Nations. The President of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis, has called for constructive dialogue to honor commitments to Indigenous Peoples.

Similar land disputes have been ongoing, such as the Blood Tribe's Treaty Land Entitlement claim against Canada. In 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed nearly all of the Blood Tribe's appeal but declared that Canada had breached the Treaty No. 7 land entitlement provisions and its conduct in shortchanging the Blood Tribe was dishonorable.

The Métis governments in Canada have also faced challenges in their pursuit of self-government agreements and recognition of their rights. They argue that reconciliation with the Métis is a constitutional imperative and that the self-government agreements they signed with Canada in February 2023 set out a clear path to finally put in place nation-to-nation, government-to-government treaties.

The Yoorrook Justice Commission's findings on the denied land for Aboriginal veterans in Victoria highlight the need for governments to address historic injustices and work towards reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. As Minister Hutchins stated, the treatment of returned First Nations soldiers was 'disgraceful', and the ongoing effects on their families must be acknowledged and addressed.

Key Takeaways

• Yoorrook Justice Commission uncovered discrimination against Aboriginal veterans denied land
• Aboriginal veteran's family denied land despite fighting for Australia in WWII
• Trauma from taking land from Aboriginal reserves and redistributing to non-Aboriginal veterans
• Need for truth-telling and reconciliation efforts to address historic injustices
• Similar land disputes ongoing, e.g., Blood Tribe's claim against Canada, Métis self-government