Indigenous Australia for Dummies

Front Cover
John Wiley & Sons, Mar 16, 2012 - Political Science - 448 pages
A comprehensive, relevant, and accessible look at all aspects of Indigenous Australian history and culture

What is The Dreaming? How many different Indigenous tribes and languages once existed in Australia? What is the purpose of a corroboree? What effect do the events of the past have on Indigenous peoples today? Indigenous Australia For Dummies answers these questions and countless others about the oldest race on Earth. It explores Indigenous life in Australia before 1770, the impact of white settlement, the ongoing struggle by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to secure their human rights and equal treatment under the law, and much more.

Celebrating the contributions of Indigenous people to contemporary Australian culture, the book explores Indigenous art, music, dance, literature, film, sport, and spirituality. It discusses the concept of modern Indigenous identity and examines the ongoing challenges facing Indigenous communities today, from health and housing to employment and education, land rights, and self-determination.

  • Explores significant political moments—such as Paul Keating's Redfern Speech and Kevin Rudd's apology, and more
  • Profiles celebrated people and organisations in a variety of fields, from Cathy Freeman to Albert Namatjira to the Bangarra Dance Theatre and the National Aboriginal Radio Service
  • Challenges common stereotypes about Indigenous people and discusses current debates, such as a land rights and inequalities in health and education

This book will enlighten readers of all backgrounds about the history, struggles and triumphs of the diverse, proud, and fascinating peoples that make up Australia's Indigenous communities. With a foreword by former PM Malcolm Fraser, Indigenous Australia For Dummies is a must-read account of Australia's first people.

'Indigenous Australia For Dummies is an important contribution to the broad debate and to a better understanding of our past history. Hopefully it will influence future events.'—Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser

 

Contents

Table of Contents
Where to Go from Here
Traditional Cultural Values and Practices
Indigenous Worldviews
Controlling the Environment
Reparations
Seeking legal iustice
Citizenship Rights
Performance Stor y telling Film Theatre
Taking Over the Camera
Treadin the Black Boards
Appearing on Mainstream Screens
Getting onto Mainstream Airwaves
Playing Them at Their Own Games
Cricket
We Love Our Footy

British Subects but Not uite
Still Denied Eguality
Steps Towards Eguality
The Referendum ls Announced
Land Rights
iusfice
Legislating Land Rights
Looking at the New South Wales
Working on a Way Forward
Contemporary Indigenous Cultures
Using art to inform
Looking at bark painting
Appreciating Indigenous crafts
Indigenous Literature Weve Always Been
Black people writing about black
Publishing Indigenous Stories
Track and Field
Dealing with Current Issues
Looking at Housing Problems
Primary education
Vocational education
The Future of Indigenous
Selfdetermination
referendum
Inspecting the relationship
Proposing Legal and Constitutional Reform
Ten Important Indigenous Cultural Sites
Ten Indigenous Firsts
Ten Myths about Indigenous People
Ten Key Legal Decisions
Copyright

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About the author (2012)

Professor Larissa Behrendt is a Eualeyai and Kamillaroi woman. She is Professor of Law and Director of Research at the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology, Sydney, and the author of several novels and books about Indigenous issues. She was named as 2009 NAIDOC Person of the Year and 2011 New South Wales Australian of the Year.

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