2023 marked the year of the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. It proved to be a heavy and overwhelming time for mob.
There was anger and disappointment, but also inspiration and excellence.
If there's one thing that came out of this year it is that we, as Blackfellas, are strong and won't stop fighting for our people.
Let's take a look back at some of the moments that shaped 2023.
Miss Universe rocked the runway in a beautiful Blak design
Miss Australia Monique Riley wearing a cape designed by Ngarluma, Kariyarra, Nyulnyul and Yawuru designer, artist and mother Bobbi Lockyer. Source: AFP / Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
Jaws dropped as Miss Universe Australia strutted down the runway in the United States wearing a cape designed by Kariyarra, Ngarluma, Nyul Nyul and Yawuru artist and designer Bobbi Lockyer.
, an actress, women's boxing coach and Australia's 2022 Miss Universe contender.
The pair since formed a strong friendship.
The deep blue and lilac cape was adorned with a design titled 'Ngunggumarnda' which means 'strong' in Ngarluma language.
The adventuring Abbott twins make their rugby debut
Tashiem and Tyler Abbott travelled across the country on camels for a chance to make it big in the NRL.
Back in 2012, they travelled thousands of kilometres to take a chance on their football career.
This year we saw it pay off, with those deadly twins (all grown up) make their rugby league debut!
Back in January, the twins , with both of them having a run in the New South Wales Under 16-team.
NITV can't wait to see what the twins do next!
Luxury wedding venue apologises for massacre painting
The photo posted to Redleaf's Instagram featured a wedding party in front of the controversial painting. Source: Instagram
After the photo received negative backlash on social media, the company removed the painting from the venue and deleted the photo of the wedding party off of their Instagram.
In a two-post apology on their social media which has now been deleted, Redleaf claimed that they were "deeply sorry" and "never intended to upset anybody".
Police officer allegedly points gun at teenage girl
Earlier this year, this story sent shockwaves around the country.
In March, a NSW police officer allegedly during the arrest of a man in the northwest community of Bourke.
In a short video posted to social media, Kyeran Smith is seen being held on the ground by a police officer, with his hands pinned behind his back.
Two other police officers navigate the crowd, one removes a weapon from his belt and aims it at the person filming, who was allegedly a 14-year-old Aboriginal girl, before it cuts out.
Rickeeta and her father welcome Harry Styles to Country
Rickeeta Walley with Harry Styles after the Welcome to Country. He's holding a ceremonial headband she gifted him. Source: Supplied / Rickeeta Walley
After Styles' management asked Richard Walley to deliver a Welcome to Country, he had to ring his daughter Rickeeta to ask who Harry Styles was.
Rickeeta told her dad that Styles was a "very, very, very famous singer."
The pair delivered a beautiful Welcome to over 30,000 people and Rickeeta also gave Styles a ceremonial headband she made.
Uncle Richard has also Welcomed K.I.S.S, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Joe Cocker to Country.
The 40th anniversary of the iconic 'Let's Dance' video
David Bowie and Joelene King Source: Supplied
On the 14th of March forty years ago, Joelene King and Terry Roberts featured in David Bowie's 'Let's Dance' music video.
The video portrays them as a young Aboriginal couple struggling to exist in Sydney, contrasting against the song's upbeat tempo and seemingly positive lyrics.
David Bowie said that the message of the film clip was that it's wrong to be racist. The young Aboriginal performers were touched by their time working with the star.
"I am humbled to have had my fifteen minutes of fame with him," Joelene King said.
Souvenirs of Aboriginal land end up in Oscars goodie bags
The annual Academy Awards made its way around this year, except this time there was a 'gift' in the Oscars goodie bag that didn't sit well with mob.
The Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN) sought legal advice after their name and images were used by 'Pieces of Australia', a company that was giving away Australian land in the Academy Awards gift pack.
The CEO of ICIN, Anna Boustead, told NITV that they had not heard of 'Pieces of Australia' and .
She said that the idea of Aboriginal land being given away to wealthy third parties without permission from Traditional Owners speaks to the pervasive notion of ‘Terra Nullius'.
According to Pieces of Australia's terms and conditions, giving land away is meant to be a "novel/ symbolic souvenir", rather than land outright owned.
The Twelve Apostles are handed back
Twelve Apostles rocks in port Campbell national park. Credit: Prisma by Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty
Mob from the Eastern Maar nation celebrated the handback of more than 8500 square kilometres of their Traditional Lands.
It was Victoria's first successful native title determination for ten years, and only the fifth ever claim to be recognised by the state.
Jamie Lowe, a board member of the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, said that it's important for the younger generation to see the handback of land.
Federal Court Justice Bernard Murphy said that is recognition that the Country has always been the Country of the Eastern Maar Peoples.
Channel 7 presenters speak over Welcome to Country
Jannawi Dance Clan performing at the Women's World Cup alongside Aunty Julie.
Then, there was disappointment.
Dharug Elder Aunty Julie spoke of her 'heartbreak' when Channel 7 presenters spoke over the Welcome to Country before a Women's World Cup match between Australia and Ireland.
The Welcome to Country was delivered by Dharug Elder Aunty Julie Jones. Jannawi Dance Clan dancers performed alongside her.
The Director of Jannawi Dance Clan Peta Strachan said that four months of planning went into the Welcome to Country and accompanying performance.
"[Channel 7] go to an ad and silence the voices and the storytelling of women that have been a part of the oldest living culture on the planet," Aunty Julie said.
The Referendum
Australia has voted against enshrining an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, with the results being called early. Source: AAP / Con Chronis/AAP Image
For Blakfullas, debate and discussion around the Voice to Parliament took up a lot of space on our TV screens, social media feeds and the media outlets that we consume.
Garma Festival this year saw a lot of discourse around the Voice, with an appearance from the Prime Minister and Minister of Indigenous Australians Linda Burney.
There was also the Now and Forever concert put on by Senator Briggs in support of a yes vote.
We watched as the referendum took a toll on the mental well-being of mob around the country.
Ultimately, the referendum failed, resulting in an emotional response from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples whatever their position.
It was revealed in the aftermath that
Post referendum, states are taking on different approaches to treaty.
While NSW is open to a state-based treaty, the Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk conceded that the path to treaty is a long way off.
