Vincent Lingiari: Aboriginal Stockman And Land Rights Leader

Vincent Lingiari, an Aboriginal Stockman and land rights leader, according to records, he was born in 1919, no date given. Vincent was the son of Gurindji parents, who were employed at a vestry-owned cattle station called Wave Hill owned by a British company, because Australia was apart of the commonwealth. At the age of 12, Vincent was absorbed into Wave Hill, to work at stock camps. As he grew older, he became a head stockman at the station, but at first, he wasn’t paid. His first time receiving and encountering the concept of money was in 1953, when he was lined up with his co-workers and received €5 for his work. Vincent also at this time, was becoming a Gurindji law boss, who was highly respected by his people. Vincent was a soft-spoken

The status of the Gurindji people, was the main reason behind the strike. The Gurindji Strike was a strike by 200 Gurindji people, consisting of stockmen/women, house servants and their families. It started when these 200 Gurindji stopped working and walked off, and went to Daguragu, until they got better pay and rations, and also the protection of Aboriginal women. When this request got denied, the strikers settled camps and stayed put. The local government offered them a higher pay of about 125%, only if they returned, they refused. They were even threatened, that if they didn’t, their food supplies would be cut and they would be evicted from the camp. This kind of determination from the Gurindji people even got the support from white Australians, which consisted mainly of Students and Trade Unionists. This strike lasted nine years, before the government took

During an unprecedented ceremony, Whitlam pours a handful of red soil into Vincent’s hand, which symbolizes that he and his people were given their land back.
Ever since the strike, Vincent became a Indigenous rights supporter. He made some of the tough decisions, like rejecting the local government’s request and staying put. He was a strong leader of the Gurindji people, who became something even more stronger from support the equal rights for indigenous rights and their land rights. He recorded and some Musicians made songs like Gurindji Blue, he was appointed AM too, and many more events/actions in his life.
Vincent’s actions had many results from being appointed an AM for his contributions to his people’s rights, being a role model to all Australians, the return of his land by the Prime Minster, greater public support for the indigenous people and generally giving all indigenous people, a better life and more equal rights, just like their European counterparts. Vincent was probably the type of the person, who wanted equality for his people. He was a man who taught everyone a lesson on how to respect each other, to be patient and wait, achieving things in a passive way, and about forgiveness, because even captives and slaves can have forgiveness towards their