The creator of the Aboriginal flag - Luritja man Harold Thomas – has received an honorary doctorate from Charles Darwin University in recognition of his contribution to the fine arts and activism for Aboriginal rights.
In 1969, Thomas became the first Aboriginal person to graduate from an Australian art school.
Two years later, he designed a bold graphic artwork that swiftly became the emblem of the Aboriginal flag. He created the flag as part of a demonstration at the National Aboriginal Day Observance Committee (now known as the National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee) march.
The flag with its iconic red, black and yellow design, became an important symbol for Indigenous Australians and is regularly flown alongside Australia's national flag in official and ceremonial capacities.
Although the respected First Nations artist is mostly known for creating the flag, his artistic work spans more than five decades. He also became actively involved in social justice for Aboriginal rights.
He recently received the title of Honorary Doctor of Arts at a Charles Darwin University (CDU) graduation at the Casuarina campus.
"The creation of art is my life and will continue to be," Mr Thomas said.
The flag became the subject of a commercial dispute in 2019 when a company that licensed the image from Thomas began demanding payment from various organisations using it.
After a massive social media campaign was launched to "free the flag", the former Morrison Government paid reportedly $20m to obtain the copyright to the flag in 2022 and terminate commercial licenses owned by companies which had limited the reproduction of the symbol.
It meant all Australians could use the flag without the fear of copyright infringement.
At the time, Thomas said the Aboriginal flag "represents the timeless history of our land and our people's time on it".
"The Aboriginal flag design is my dreaming, intertwined with my wife's family and mine, our ancestral belonging," he said.
"The land, and the landscape, is indelible in my make-up; it courses through my consciousness and subconsciousness."
CDU Deputy Vice-Chancellor First Nations Leadership, Professor Reuben Bolt, said Mr Thomas' dedication to fine arts was a testament to his unwavering commitment to preserving and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of First Nations peoples.
"His artistic endeavours are long-standing and have been developed over many years, across many artistic disciplines," he said.
"One of his most influential works, was the design of the Aboriginal flag which later became one of the most recognisable symbols of Aboriginality - a national symbol that featured prominently in the social justice and land rights movements in Australia.
"It was a symbol of activism, yet at the same time, it was and still is, a symbol of unity and solidarity amongst Aboriginal peoples in Australia."
