Indigenous Studies

Foreword

A Google search “Australians at War” brings up a wealth of information about military conflicts that Australians have been involved in, but all of these conflicts have been overseas, fighting alongside our overseas allies. The wars on Australian soil are rarely mentioned because they usually did not involve the military. However, there was “undeclared war” between European settlers and Australia’s Indigenous inhabitants whose lands were being stolen. This war was waged for at least 100 years!

Unlike most military wars, there has been no armistice and no negotiation of peace. Arguably, the “war” continued for another 100 years as successive state and federal governments sanctioned the dispossession and exclusion of many Indigenous Australians from mainstream society through the legalised denial of both their human rights and natural justice.

A previous Governor-General, Sir William Deane, reflected the views of many Australians when he said that “until true reconciliation with its Indigenous peoples is reached, Australia is a diminished nation”. A dictionary meaning of reconciliation is the re-establishing of cordial relations. Reconciliation includes acknowledging the wrongs that have been done to Australia’s first inhabitants who suffered unspeakable hardships during and after invasion by the English and other Europeans. Reconciliation also includes understanding!

Supporting reconciliation means working to overcome the reasons why there is division and inequality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Achieving reconciliation involves learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. Achieving reconciliation is also about acknowledging the right of all people, no matter what their origins, to justice and equality of opportunity in all aspects of today’s Australian society.

It is hoped that the activities in this unit will contribute to this reconciliation process in some small way.

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