National NAIDOC Award Winners

Cheryl Buchanan - Person of the Year (Female)

The winner of the female Person of the Year is one of the founding members of many Queensland Aboriginal organisations, Cheryl Buchanan.

Cheryl Buchanan she has been an author, editor, speaker, director, business-person, political activist, teacher, lecturer and negotiator as well as a mother and grandmother.

She was the founding member of numerous Queensland Aboriginal organisations, including the Aboriginal Legal, Medical and Childcare Centre in Brisbane, Black Community School, Black Resource Centre, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Womens Legal and Advocacy Service.

She was the first Aboriginal woman publisher and an acclaimed playwright and author, with many published and performed works and that is why her family describe her as an educator, and a walking history book with cultural integrity.

She has lectured throughout Australia and was a trail-blazer for women’s rights, especially Indigenous women’s rights.

During the 70’s she organised hundreds of marches for causes she believed in, including trade unionism, gay and lesbian and nuclear free groups — anyone who was fighting for justice would find Cheryl Buchanan would lend a hand.

The work she has been involved in has created thousands of jobs for Indigenous people. She has established two businesses: Murrie Coo-ee Publishing and Editing Service for Aboriginal Authors and Jagera Jarjum Aboriginal Dance Group.

In 2003, she was awarded the Centenary Medal from the Commonwealth of Australia for Distinguished service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Communities of Australia.

She is presently the Chairperson of the Kooma Traditional Owners Association and has a new goal of establishing a Cultural and Education and Research Centre on Kooma land, so that young people and old can practice traditional ways.