Art as Evidence: The Legacy of the Spinifex People court decision

 

Join us for a conversation with leading barrister and former President of the National Native Title Tribunal, Raelene Webb KC, inside the Spinifex People: Art and stories from Pila Nguru exhibition as we explore the transformative legal landscape and cultural significance of this historic decision.

 

Following the 1992 Mabo case ruling, the Spinifex People began their pursuit of Native Title recognition. Traditional owners from the Spinifex area returned to Country to document birthplaces and record Tjukurpa (dreaming stories). Spinifex painting emerged as part of this process, born from a need to present evidence in support of their claim.

 

By 1988, a Framework Agreement was signed by then WA premier Richard Court. To mark their successful claim, the Spinifex People produced two canvasses mapping Country, which were then later included in the preamble of the final land agreement with the Western Australian Government.

 

As part of this talk, we will see these two pivotal artworks and discuss how they became powerful expressions of cultural identity, history and legal recognition.