Clarrie Isaacs

Isaacs attended Perth Modern School, where he studied technical drawing. He later attended the Clyde Cameron College in Albury, a union-backed training centre.{{cite web | url=http://www.west.com.au/clarrie/ | title=YALURITJA CLARRIE ISAACS (Haj) J.P. | publisher=west.com.au | access-date=12 May 2010}} After converting to Islam Isaacs undertook a pilgrimage to Mecca, earning the right to use the honorific title Haj.

In the early 1990s Isaacs was among a number of activists, including Michael Mansell, who formed the Aboriginal Provisional Government. At various times Isaacs styled himself as the President of the Aboriginal Government.{{cite news | url=http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/28557 | title=Yaluritja Clarrie Isaacs – a lifetime of activism | work=Green Left Weekly | date=10 December 2003 | access-date=12 May 2010 | last=Benbow | first=Anthony}}{{cite web | url=http://www.west.com.au/clarrie/pres.html | title=Media Statement for the 1996 Australian Federal Elections | publisher=west.com.au | work=Aboriginal Government of Australia | access-date=12 May 2010 | last=Isaacs | first=Clarrie}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/completed_inquiries/pre1996/native_title/03-1app2.pdf|title=Details of Meetings|work=Australian Senate|publisher=Parliament of Australia|pages=39|access-date=12 May 2010}} Isaacs, with other activists, travelled to Libya using Aboriginal passports issued by a group that later became known as the Aboriginal Provisional Government.{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19880621&id=ADopAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9JYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5192,46886 | title=Libya backs black passports, say Mansell | work=The Age | date=21 June 1988 | access-date=12 May 2010 | last=Walker | first=Antony | via=Google News Archive}} Attempting to use the passports on their re-entry to Australia, they were initially refused entry to Australia by immigration officials.{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CDopAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9JYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4057,6639483|title=Mansell group held up in passport hitch|last=Frail|first=Rod|date=30 June 1988|work=The Age|access-date=28 May 2010}}{{Cite episode

| title = Desperate Times

| series = Message Stick

| network = ABC Television

| airdate = 14 May 2004

| transcript = yes

| transcript-url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/messagestick/stories/s1104740.htm }}{{Cite book|last=Prentis|first=Malcolm D.|title=A Concise Companion to Aboriginal History |publisher=Rosenberg|year=2008|pages=17–18|isbn=978-1-877058-62-2}}

Isaacs was a prominent figure in protests against development of the Swan Brewery site in Perth during the late 1980s. He was also prominent in efforts to return the pickled head of 19th century Noongar warrior Yagan from Britain.{{Cite book|last=Muecke|first=Stephen |title=Ancient & modern: time, culture and indigenous philosophy|year=2004|publisher=UNSW Press|location=Sydney|isbn=0-86840-786-0|pages=41, 42|chapter=Morning Coffee With Clarrie}}

In 1991 Isaacs was a founding member of the short-lived New Left Party, considered a successor of the Communist Party of Australia.{{Cite book|last1=McDonald|first1=Tom|last2=McDonald|first2=Audrey|title=Intimate union: sharing a revolutionary life |date=January 1998|publisher=Pluto Press Australia|isbn=1-86403-051-8|page=358}} In the 1993 Western Australian state election Isaacs stood for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Fremantle.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/wa/2009/fremantle/|title=2009 Fremantle By-election|work=ABC Elections|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=13 May 2010}} Isaacs stood as a candidate for Racism No! in the 1996 Western Australian state election for the Legislative Council in the South Metropolitan Region.{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/intranet/libpages.nsf/WebFiles/Publications+1996+WA+Election+AG/$FILE/1996+WA+Election.pdf|title=South Metropolitan Region|work=Western Australian State Election 1996|publisher=Parliament of Western Australia|access-date=12 May 2010}} At the 2001 Australian federal election Isaacs was a candidate for the Australian Senate, however he only received 260 votes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/federal_elections/2001/results/SEN_WA.htm|title=Senate Results - First Preference Votes by Candidate - Western Australia|publisher=Australian Electoral Commission|access-date=12 May 2010}}

He was chairman of the Derbal Yerrigan Health Service and was a Western Australian delegate to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.{{Cite web|url=http://www.naccho.org.au/Files/Documents/ACF11EF.pdf|title=Aboriginal health sector loses three great friends|date=February 2004|work=NACCHO News|publisher=National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation|page=7|access-date=13 May 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706125636/http://www.naccho.org.au/Files/Documents/ACF11EF.pdf|archive-date=6 July 2011}} Isaacs was a justice of the peace.{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/commit.nsf/(Report+Lookup+by+Com+ID)/E6ED8B9C75F43177482569050031AB24/$file/lg051rp.pdf|title=List of submissions received by the Committee|work=Standing Committee on Legislation|publisher=Parliament of Western Australia|access-date=13 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731152723/http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/commit.nsf/(Report+Lookup+by+Com+ID)/E6ED8B9C75F43177482569050031AB24/$file/lg051rp.pdf|archive-date=31 July 2008|url-status=dead}}

Isaacs died 26 November 2003 in Dunsborough, Western Australia. He was buried on 12 December 2003 at Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/11/27/998910.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231045516/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/11/27/998910.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 December 2012|title=Aboriginal activist Clarrie Isaacs dies|date=27 November 2003|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=12 May 2010}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dia.wa.gov.au/News/Newsletter_Y_Archive_View.aspx?nid=58|title=Funeral for Indigenous activist|date=3 December 2003|publisher=Department of Indigenous Affairs|access-date=12 May 2010}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}{{cite web|url=https://portal.mcb.wa.gov.au/name-search/ns-detail/?id=c09e22d9-de1c-ec11-b6e7-00224814cbf0|title=Name Search|publisher=Metropolitan Cemeteries Board|access-date=2023-06-15}}

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Category:1948 births

Category:2003 deaths

Category:Australian indigenous rights activists

Category:Burials at Karrakatta Cemetery

Category:Trade unionists from Perth, Western Australia

Category:People educated at Perth Modern School

Category:Noongar people