The continuing impact of colonisation
The legal fiction of terra nullius
In 1788, there was an estimated Indigenous population of 750,000 people in Australia when the first British fleet entered the coastline of Warrange, now known as Sydney. The land of Aboriginal peoples was claimed under the ‘legal fiction’ of terra nullius, enabling the dispossession of Aboriginal lands (Moreton-Robinson, 2015, p.4).‘Terra nullius’ translates to ‘nobody’s land’, but the truth is the British claim on the land disregarded evidence documented by early settlers and explorers that prior to colonisation, Aboriginal people had well established systems of land and water use (Pascoe, 2014, p.129).A history of resistance
Contrary to what many Australians think, Aboriginal people actively resisted the British invasion of Australia right from the beginning. This resistance resulted in brutal massacres known as ‘Frontier Wars’. Their sole purpose was to break down the resistance of Australia’s First Peoples (Ryan et al, 2017).Up until as recently as 1960, thousands of Aboriginal people (including women and children) were also massacred while going about their daily lives.- Assimilation policy
- Protection policies
The events of the past are very important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These events weren’t that long ago. There are many people alive today who:
- Were forcibly removed from their parents under government policy.
- Had their children taken away.
- Were not allowed in towns after 6:00 at night.
- Were not allowed to be in certain areas without permission.
- Were barred from schools and hospitals.
- Returned from wars only to find they did not have the same rights as white people.
- Have not enjoyed the same rights as others, simply because they were Indigenous (Reconciliation Australia, ND).
- Self-determination: census and equal pay
Historical timeline: Our shared history
Take a few minutes to review Our Shared History. It highlights some of the policies imposed on Australia’s First Peoples since colonisation. Please note: you will need to scroll down a little to access the interactive timeline.Intergenerational trauma – connecting the past with the present
The physical, spiritual and emotional wounds inflicted on Australia’s First Peoples continue to impact on the current health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The cruelty and violence that spanned so many years is at the heart of the intergenerational trauma continuing to be experienced today.Watch the video to better understand the impact of colonisation and intergenerational trauma on First Peoples health.This is an additional video, hosted on YouTube.
Your task
Reconciliation Australia says there’s growing momentum to establish a truth telling commission to open up an honest and more complete understanding of colonisation, dispossession and the ensuing trauma for Australia’s First Peoples (2018).Is Australia overdue for a ‘truth-telling’ commission? Read Truth-telling Central to Reconciliation Process and then share your thoughts in the comments section below.References
Reconciliation Australia. (ND). Our shared historyReconciliation Australia. (2018). Truth-telling Central to Reconciliation ProcessRyan, L., Richards, J., Debenham, J., Anders, R.J, Pascoe, W., Brown, M., Price, D. (2017).l Colonial Frontier Massacres in Eastern Australia 1788 – 1872, v1.0 Newcastle: University of Newcastle (funded by the Australian Research Council)Safer Healthcare for Australia's First Peoples

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