Susan Charles Rankin facts for kids
Susan Charles Rankin, also known as Aunty Sue Rankin, was born in 1957. She is an important leader and activist for Aboriginal rights and human rights in Australia. Aunty Sue is an Elder of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. They are part of the Kulin Nation from central Victoria, Australia.
In 2005, Aunty Sue was one of five Aboriginal Elders who asked Australia's highest court, the High Court of Australia, to investigate past injustices against Aboriginal Australians. They wanted the government to look into historical wrongs that had a terrible impact on Indigenous communities.
Standing Up for Land Rights
Aunty Sue Rankin has worked hard to protect Aboriginal land rights. She believes that Aboriginal people should have a say in how their traditional lands are used.
The Going Home Camp
On May 26, 2004, which is National Sorry Day, Aunty Sue peacefully returned to a special piece of land. This land is at Franklinford, Victoria in central Victoria. She called her camp the Going Home Camp. This place is very important to the Dja Dja Wurrung people.
Aunty Sue asked the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment to show documents. She wanted proof that the government had the right to be on these lands. Local officers from the department said they could not find such documents. They even doubted if these papers existed. Aunty Sue was briefly taken by police, but no charges were filed against her.
The Sacred Life Walk
In 2007, Aunty Sue Rankin started a long journey called the Sacred Life Walk. She walked about 1,500 kilometres from Adelaide to Uluru. Her goal was to bring attention to important issues. She wanted the world to focus on changes happening to Mother Earth. She also wanted people to see the difficult living conditions of Aboriginal Peoples in their homelands.
