History (Semester 2) Flashcards
What was the nature of the Protectionism policy?
- Based on stereotypes
- Aborigines forcibly removed from lands and made to live on reserves or missions.
- Missionaries controlled Aboriginals
- ‘Half-caste’ children removed from Aboriginal mothers to be raised in white community
- Dispossession and paternalism
- Became wards of the state & were treated legally as minors (chief protector was responsible for them)
What were the rights denied under the Protectionism policy?
- Basic human rights (all), such as:
- EQUALITY
- Freedom of movement
- Labour
- Custody of their children
- Control over personal property
- Diminution of tradition and culture
Provide examples of Aboriginal responses to the policy of Protectionism.
Cummeragunja reserve:
- The reserve gained a reputation amongst white authorities as ‘trouble-makers’ → they continually defended their rights through strikes, deputations and petitions - Cummeragunja walk-off - Day of Mourning
What was the nature of the Assimilation policy?
- Aboriginals were forced to adopt ‘mainstream’ / Australian culture, in light of the ‘White Australia’ policy
- implemented because the aim for the policy of protection had failed to eradicate aboriginal culture.
- Full-bloods would ‘die out’, and half-castes would assimilate
- Citizenship/Exemption Certificates: “Dog Tags”
- Let them vote, go to hotels, education for children: citizenship rights
- No longer Aboriginals legally
What were the rights denied under the Assimilation policy?
- All denied, though mainly equality
- Aboriginals not allowed to talk to their own race
- Not allowed to continue cultural traditions
Provide examples of Aboriginal responses to the policy of Assimilation.
- Day of Mourning
- Anthony Martin Fernando’s protests
- Gurindji Strike
When did the Stolen Generations occur?
Late 1800s to 1970s
What was the purpose of the Stolen Generations?
to wipe out the existence of Aboriginals by assimilating the new generation into white society
What experiences / things occurred in the Stolen Generation?
- Removals
- Conducted in ways including force, threat, deception and trickery.- Assimilation
- Adoption
- Fostering
- Apprenticeships
- Farm labour
- Experiences
- Children were forced to go, and parents threatened when they tried to stop this
‘taken like animals’- Boys: did farm labour
- Girls: did housework, domestic service
- perpetuated gender roles
- Children were forced to go, and parents threatened when they tried to stop this
- Assimilation
What was the short-term response to the Stolen Generations?
- Physical, mental and sexual abuse of the Stolen Generations
- Diminution of culture by state officials led children to be ashamed of heritage
- Disruption of Indigenous oral culture
- Poor living conditions where children were frequently punished harshly
- Low level of education due to labourer expectations
What was the long-term response to the Stolen Generations?
- Intergenerational traumas
- Generations of children raised in state care due to parents never learning required skills
- Parents never recovered from grief
- High incidence of depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress and suicide among the Stolen Generations
- Loss of culture / oral tradition
- Language
- Land
- Identity
- Distrust of government, police and officials
- Anguish of searching for identity
What are seven examples of Aboriginal activists / activism?
- Anthony Martin Fernando
- Day of Mourning
- Petition to the King
- Cummeragunja Walk-Off
- Aboriginal Progressive Association
- Aboriginal Advancement League
- Gurindji Strike
What was the short-term impact of the Day of Mourning?
- Motivated the Indigenous community
- Empowered Aboriginals
- Showed the government and society their cause
What was the legacy left by the Day of Mourning?
- Recognised by Aboriginal organisations
- However, overshadowed by events such as Australia Day / Invasion Day, which is the opposite of the Day of Mourning.
When did the Petition to the King occur?
1937
What was the Petition to the King?
A petition to King George V from the Aboriginals, requesting his intervention to improve quality of life for the Aboriginals and give them a voice in federal parliament.
What types of activism did the Day of Mourning conduct?
- Community meeting
- Speech
- Marching
- Pamphlets
- Public protest
Who was the Petition to the King organised by?
William Cooper
What types of activism were the Petition to the King?
- Peaceful
- Formal petition / letter
What was the short-term impact of the Petition to the King?
- Increased (moral) motivation of Aboriginal activism
What was the Petition to the King?
A petition to King George V seeking representation in parliament, citizenship and land rights for Aboriginal people
What types of activism were the Petition to the King?
- Peaceful
- Formal petition / letter
What was the legacy left by the Petition to the King?
It was not sent to King George VI by the cabinet, so had no long-term effect.
When was the Cummeragunja Walk-Off?
1953
What was the Cummeragunja Walk-Off?
Hundreds of Aborigines walked off the Cummeragunja reserve in protest to the oppressive conditions and management from the whites.
Who organised the Cummeragunja Walk-Off?
Jack Patten
What types of activism were the Cummeragunja Walk-Off?
- Walk off / strike
- Peacefully disobeying authority
What was the short-term effect of the Cummeragunja Walk-off?
- Motivator for other peaceful protests by Aboriginals under oppressive conditions
- Demonstrated to public that Aborigines were tired of conditions, and wanted equality.
What was the legacy left by the Cummeragunja Walk-off?
- The majority of families who left never returned
- In 1983, the land was returned to the Yorta Yorta people, and some of them live in Cummeragunja today.
What was the Aboriginal Advancement League?
- The oldest Aboriginal organisation
- Encouraged fight for civil rights / against assimilation laws
Who led the Aboriginal Advancement League?
Doug Nicholls
What types of activism did the Aboriginal Advancement League conduct?
- Peaceful assembly
- Political and social petitions / letters
What was the short-term effect of the Aboriginal Advancement League?
- Influenced Aboriginals to fight for rights
- Drafted and circulated petition to allow federal government to legislate in Aboriginal affairs?
What was the legacy left by the Aboriginal Advancement League?
- Provided foothold for other groups to gain civil rights
What was the Aboriginal Progressive Association?
- Aimed to improve quality of life for Aborigines
- Responsible for organising Day of Mourning protest
Who led the Aboriginal Progressive Association?
William Ferguson & Jack Patten
What types of activism did the Aboriginal Progressive Association conduct?
Peaceful assembly
What was the short-term effect of the Aboriginal Progressive Association?
- Built alliance of Aboriginal activists in Aboriginal communities, reserves and major NSW centres (etc. Sydney)
What was the legacy left by the Aboriginal Progressive Association?
- Day of Moruning
What was the Gurindji Strike?
- Strike that lasted 7 years
- Led 200 Aboriginal workers off jobs at Wave Hill cattle station
- Complaints included low wages and poor conditions, but shifted towards land rights
Who led the Gurindji Strike?
Gurindji tribal elder Vincent Lingiari
What types of activism did the Gurindji Strike conduct?
- Strike
What was the short-term effect of the Gurindji Strike?
Challenged Australian labour movement to address attitudes on rights and conditions of Aborigines
What was the legacy left by the Gurindji Strike?
Forced head organisations to adopt policies on Aboriginal rights, and increased awareness amongst white community of mistreatment of Aborigines
When did the Gurindji Strike occur?
August 1966 - 1975
When was the Day of Mourning?
26th Jan, 1938 after the Australia Day parades
What was the Day of Mourning?
Protest against white government / denial of human rights and wrongful seizure of land
Who was Anthony Martin Fernando?
An Aboriginal activist who went to London and raised awareness about Aboriginals.
Publicised the issues of segregation of Aboriginals by wearing a coat with bones on them that indicated the loss of his Aboriginal people / family.
What types of activism did Anthony Martin Fernando conduct?
- Standing protest
- Peaceful
- Vocal activism
What was the short-term effect of Anthony Martin Fernando?
- Activities oversea increased worldwide interest in Aboriginal awareness
What was the legacy left by Anthony Martin Fernando?
- (Overseas) Raised issue of denial of Aboriginal rights oversea
- Inspired further activism of Aboriginal rights
