Summary dot points of regulations and laws on Aboriginal history Flashcards
What was the protection policy,What short and long term consequences came from the introduction of this policy?
Protection Acts: Enacted by mainland state governments and the Northern Territory in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to regulate Indigenous lives under the guise of “protection.”
Short-Term Problem: The Board’s extensive control limited Indigenous rights and freedoms, enforcing strict social and geographic boundaries.
Long-Term Problem: The Board aimed to remove Indigenous children from their families, but legislation (1909 Act) only granted authority similar to that for neglected white children.
Policies and different types of the protection policy
Implementation of Policies: Protection Acts were used to enforce various government policies regarding Indigenous populations.
Policy Types:
- Protection: Claimed to safeguard Indigenous people, often resulting in restrictive controls.
- Separation: Enforced physical and social separation from non-Indigenous populations.
- Absorption: Attempted to integrate Indigenous people into non-Indigenous society, often through restrictive measures.
- Assimilation: Sought to culturally assimilate Indigenous people, aiming to erase Indigenous identity over time.
- Government Philosophy: The approach shifted depending on government attitudes and priorities, influencing how Indigenous people were treated and managed by the state.
Day of Mourning
Day of Mourning: on the 26th January 1938 there was a protest event held by Aboriginal people in response to historical injustices.
Purpose: To protest against violence, dispossession, and discrimination experienced by Aboriginal people since 1788.
Organizers:
Led by Aboriginal activists Jack Patten, William Ferguson, and William Cooper.
They established Aboriginal lobby groups in New South Wales and Victoria to advocate for Indigenous rights.
Stolen generation
Forcible Removal of Children: Between 1910 and the 1970s, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were taken from their families.
Involved Parties: Governments, churches, and welfare organizations carried out these removals.
Basis of Removal: Driven by assimilation policies aiming to integrate First Nations children into white society.
Justification: Authorities claimed these actions would “improve” the lives of First Nations people by assimilating them into non-Indigenous society.
Damage created by the stolen generations
Bringing Them Home Report (1997): Final report of the Inquiry into the Stolen Generations.
Documented physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, exploitation (sexual and labor), racism, grief and suffering, and disruption of family life.
Report highlighted the loss of identity, culture, heritage, and community for the Stolen Generations and their descendants.
National apology by Kevin Rudd
(On 13 February 2008)
Significance of the National Apology: Played a crucial role in the healing journey for Stolen Generations survivors.
Purpose of Healing: Essential for survivors, their descendants, families, and communities.
Goal: To end the cycle of trauma and address the effects of complex intergenerational trauma caused by past government policies.
Charles Perkins and his achievements
Charles Perkins: Civil rights activist dedicated to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Freedom Ride (1965):
-Organized a student bus tour across New South Wales to raise awareness about Aboriginal health, education, and housing.
-Highlighted race relations in Australia, becoming one of the country’s most significant civil rights events.
Notable Achievements:
-Served as Secretary of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
-Held positions as Chairman of the Aboriginal Development Commission and Aboriginal Hostels.
Wave Hill Walk Off
Wave Hill Walk-Off (23 August 1966):
Approximately 200 Gurindji stockmen, domestic workers, and families walked off Wave Hill station in protest.
Issues: Protest centered on wages and land ownership and lasted for nine years.
Outcome:
In 1974, part of the Gurindji homelands was returned.
This event influenced the 1976 legislation allowing First Nations people to claim land title.
Tent Embassy
Aboriginal Tent Embassy:
Michael Anderson, Billy Craigie, Bertie Williams, and Tony Coorey drove to Canberra and set up a beach umbrella on the lawns opposite Parliament House.
This protest, called the Aboriginal Embassy, was a symbolic response to Prime Minister McMahon’s statement on land rights.
Land rights VS Native title
Land Rights:
-Land rights are created by the government (through laws and actions).
-It gives full ownership of land, meaning the person or group can use and control the land as they wish (like owning a house).
-Land that can be claimed is limited to Crown land (land owned by the government) that’s not needed, unused, or unoccupied.
-The person claiming land rights doesn’t need to show they have a traditional or cultural connection to the land (except under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 in the Northern Territory).
Native Title:
-Native title comes from common law (court decisions) recognizing that Indigenous people have rights to land based on tradition and custom.
-To claim native title, you have to prove a continuous traditional connection to the land, which can be difficult.
-The land that can be claimed is less limited and can include Crown land, reserves, parks, forests, beaches, and even some government or community-held land.
-Native title doesn’t mean full ownership of the land or the right to make all decisions about it. Instead, it gives rights and interests to the land, but those rights usually don’t include full control. The land might still be shared with others.
-There are two types of native title: non-exclusive possession (shared use of land) and exclusive possession (full control over the land).
Mabo decision
Mabo Decision (3 June 1992):
The High Court of Australia recognized that a group of Torres Strait Islanders, led by Eddie Mabo, held ownership of Mer (Murray Island).
Significance of the Decision:
Acknowledged the traditional rights of the Meriam people to their land.
The court also affirmed that native title existed for all Indigenous people in Australia.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation Australia:
-An independent, not-for-profit organization that promotes reconciliation.
-Focuses on building relationships, respect, and trust between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
-Aims to enable all Australians to contribute to the reconciliation of the nation.
Vision of Reconciliation:
Based on five interrelated dimensions:
-Race relations
-Equality and equity
-Unity
-Institutional integrity
-Historical acceptance
