On a trip to his ancestral home on Mer Island, Kaleb Mabo made a promise to himself.
Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains images and names of people who have died.
He had always been curious about the family home his grandfather Eddie "Koiki" Mabo fought so long and hard to protect, but it was on a return visit three years ago that he was inspired to act.
"I was taken back by how much jungle and sea had washed away of the land," Kaleb said.
"This is exactly where it all started — where he grew up.
"Everything that he was taught … it all came from there — the foundations of the Mabo decision started there."
Decades had passed since Kaleb visited Mer as a young boy, but he said in 2019 he felt he was returning home.
"You feel like you're at the place in the world you're meant to be," he said.
The roots of native title
One of the easternmost inhabited islands in the Torres Strait, Mer (Murray) Island was the home and birthplace of Eddie Mabo.
Until his death in 1992, he and other plaintiffs campaigned to be recognised as traditional owners of the land, taking their case to the High Court of Australia.
The landmark ruling overturned the notion of terra nullius — the idea that the land was had no before white settlement.
After receiving permission, Kaleb has been placed in charge of restoring the land.
Restoring the past
In 2020, Kaleb returned to the island to begin the back-breaking work of restoring the land and final resting place of his grandfather.
Armed with a rake and machete, he levelled the ground and cleared the land of invasive coconut trees and pandanus palms.
"My hope is to reconnect to our cultural origins," Kaleb said.
"The reason why Koiki fought for 10 years wasn't for any political recognition — it was for the survival of culture.
"He was acknowledging that our culture was here first and remains here and is still very strong here on Mer."
Kaleb said he felt as if his grandfather was "passing the torch" to him, much like a traditional Meriam ceremony between an elder and a young man.
"The younger warrior steps in and takes up a gubba gubba (ceremonial club) and it's like taking the next journey and I feel like that's what's metaphorically happening at this point in time," he said.
"I know he's with me.
A sacred pilgrimage
To mark the 30th anniversary of the High Court ruling this year, Kaleb has been restoring his grandfather's gravesite.
Mer councillor Aven Noah explains it is a part of the island that holds enormous spiritual significance to the community.
"When I went to India, I went there to visit the temple in Agra, the Taj Mahal," he said.
"On Torres Strait, especially here on Mer Island, we want people to come and pay pilgrimage towards that gravesite.
"It's very important for dignitaries and people that come to the island that they pay homage and respect to the man that fought the long, hard battle of native title."
Mr Noah said he hoped Kaleb's vision would keep Mabo's legacy alive and pass on lessons to younger generations.
"We've got to be there to show that we stand behind our freedom fighters who have fought long and hard for us in that process," he said.
"Let him be that person that would go forward with that initiative."
In accordance with cultural protocols, the site of Las Village has not been disturbed for decades.
With many different families holding ownership of the surrounding lands, Mr Noah said it was important the community was consulted about any potential changes.
"Las Village is a sacred, sacred area and disturbing whatever is there could be detrimental to the cultural survival or existence of particular families," he said.
"When you take changes into a community, you've got to make sure that everyone understands what that change will look like."
Hope for Mabo Day recognition
Kaleb has raised almost $13,000 so far through a community fundraising page and hopes the restoration will be completed in time to mark the 31st anniversary in 2023.
But he wants to go even further by pushing to make Mabo Day on June 3 a national public holiday, instead of one only marked on several Torres Strait islands.
"I believe that giving this day the recognition that it deserves, putting it on a higher pedestal that it deserves, is the first step to that truth telling," he said.
Editor’s note: This story was altered to further clarify details on the passing of the land.
