33 Facts About Marcia Langton

Marcia Lynne Langton was born on 31 October 1951 and is an Aboriginal Australian writer and academic.

Marcia Langton was born on 31 October 1951 to Kathleen and grew up in south-central Queensland and Brisbane as a descendant of the Yiman and Bidjara heritage, both groups being Aboriginal Australian peoples.

Marcia Langton's mother married Scots-born, ex-Korean War veteran Douglas Langton when Marcia was a year old.

Marcia Langton was close to her maternal grandmother Ruby and her sister Teresa.

Marcia Langton attended Aspley State High School from 1964 to 1968, where she was a prefect and good student, but after objecting to racism in a school text, she was expelled.

Marcia Langton advocated for Indigenous land rights and against racism.

Marcia Langton spent one year at the university, during which time she fell pregnant with her son.

In Japan, Marcia Langton learnt about Buddhism, and later became a self-described "lazy Buddhist".

In Sydney, Marcia Langton worked as nutrition co-ordinator at the Aboriginal Medical Service, and worked with Fred Hollows in optical health.

In Canberra, Marcia Langton worked for the Australian Law Reform Commission in its work on recognising customary law.

Marcia Langton became a history research officer at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.

Marcia Langton was then appointed assistant head of the Division of Aboriginal and Islander Affairs in Queensland, but was forced to resign 15 months later.

Marcia Langton worked for the Australian Film Commission, Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, and, in the early 1990s, the Cape York Land Council, where she met lawyer Noel Pearson.

In 1992, Marcia Langton was appointed chair of AIATSIS in Canberra.

In 1995, Marcia Langton moved full-time into university research and teaching.

Marcia Langton spent five years as Ranger Professor of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies at Northern Territory University in Darwin before moving to Melbourne.

Marcia Langton later wrote that the founders of the paper had been inspired by Abo Call, which had been published in 1938 in Sydney by Jack Patten and Percy Reginald Stephensen.

Marcia Langton went to Canberra for a year in 1977, after being elected general secretary to the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, where she enrolled for an anthropology degree at ANU.

In October 1999, Marcia Langton was one of five Indigenous leaders who were granted an audience with Queen Elizabeth II to discuss an apology and Indigenous recognition in the Australian Constitution.

In 2007, Marcia Langton supported The Intervention by the Howard government.

Marcia Langton has argued that settlement with mining companies on Aboriginal land often benefits local interests more than the Australian Government, and that the proposed 2010 resource tax on mining in Australia needed a redesign to support Indigenous rights and employment.

Marcia Langton advocated for agreements to be made directly between mining groups and Indigenous owners of the land, with Aboriginal corporations as mediators.

Marcia Langton worked with Rio Tinto at their headquarters in Melbourne, and was impressed with their understanding of native title since the passing of the Native Title Act 1993 and their interest in working with Aboriginal communities.

In July 2021 the Indigenous Voice Co-design Process panel released its final report, often referred to as the Calma Marcia Langton report, outlining a model of a proposed Voice.

Marcia Langton refuted and criticised the reporting of her statements, and said that she would be taking legal advice with regard to Dutton's post.

On 1 November 2023, Marcia Langton strongly backed uniform alcohol restrictions across the Northern Territory.

Marcia Langton is a frequent media commentator and has served on various high-level committees on Indigenous issues.

Marcia Langton has worked in other countries on the rights of indigenous peoples, with special reference to conservation and environmental issues and has published works on issues of gender and identity, resource management and substance abuse.

Marcia Langton is known as a film and art critic and has appeared in several films, including Jardiwarnpa: a Warlpiri fire and Night Cries: A Rural Tragedy.

Marcia Langton has been on the judging panel for the annual Horne Prize since its inception in 2016.

Marcia Langton was made a member of the Order of Australia in the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours for "service as an anthropologist and advocate of Aboriginal issues".

Marcia Langton was promoted to officer of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day Honours for "distinguished service to tertiary education, and as an advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people".

Marcia Langton has a son, who lives in New Zealand, and a daughter who works in theatre.