Integration, self-determination and self-management
1967 to mid 1990s
Integration, self-determination and self-management
Integration
1967 saw the commonwealth referendum and Aboriginal peoples were granted the right of citizenship.
Self-determination
The federal Labor Government led by Gough Whitlam adopted the
policy of ‘self-determination’ for Indigenous communities in 1972. This policy was
described as ‘Aboriginal communities deciding the pace and nature of their
future development as significant components within a diverse Australia’.
It recognised that Aboriginal people had a right to be involved in decision
making about their own lives.
Self-management policy
The federal
Coalition Government led by Malcolm Fraser, which came to power in late
1975, adopted the policy of ‘self-management’ which focused
on Indigenous communities managing the government projects and funding
locally but with little say in what projects would be created. The Hawke
and Keating Labor Governments from 1983-1996 used both self-determination
and self-management as key principles in their Indigenous affairs policies
and Keating began the reconciliation movement in 1991.
Dates and facts
1937 - The
Commonwealth and States agree that the process of assimilation be adopted.
The destiny of the (half caste) natives lies ‘In their absorption
into the white community'. The era of assimilation continued until the
mid 1960's.
January 26 1938 - The first Day of Mourning for Aboriginals was held in Sydney. Delegates came at great personal risk to themselves; some were banned from returning to the settlements and missions to their families. On this same day, Aboriginal performers who were forced to perform in a re-enactment of the landing of Arthur Phillip. All of these people came from western NSW, and all were threatened with loss of rations and liberties if they did not consent to participate.
1939 - The Cummragunja Aborigines protested over bad treatment and malnutrition on the mission.
1941 - Child endowment was introduced to all non-Aboriginal Australians.
All children in the NT missions evacuated to Victoria, South Australia
and NSW following the bombing of Darwin (some say this was to prevent
Aboriginal people collaborating with the Japanese forces).
1946 - Aboriginal children were allowed to attend public schools only if they had a medical certificate allowing them to, and if all the parents of the white children were agreeable.
1948 - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is adopted by the United Nations with Australia's support.
1949 - The Convention of Genocide is ratified by Australia.
1953 - The first round of Atomic bombs were tested in South Australia.
Source: Australian Museum
More Dates
More
dates:
Australian Human Rights Commission
The history of the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families
Readings
READING: 1. Aboriginal people in NSW
- Reading 1A Before 1788
- Reading 1B First contacts
- Reading 1C The Frontier War
- Reading 1D Under the Act
- Reading 1E 1967 - 1997
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission 1997
Reading 6A: Introduction
Reading 6B:Transgenerational trauma
Reading 6C: Post Traumatic Stress
Reading 6D: Collective Trauma
Reading 6E: Destruction of Indigenous ways of dealing with trauma
Reading 6F: Cultural Trauma
READING 4 : Paul Keating Redfern Speech
This speech, on indigenous issues, was given by the then Prime Minister
of Australia, Paul Keating, at Redfern Park in Sydney on 10 December 1992
(For non-Australians, Redfern is an inner city suburb of Sydney with an
historically large Aboriginal population).
Australian Launch of the International Year for the World's Indigenous
People
READING 5: Bringing them Home - History
- Reading 5C Towards self-management
Upper Hunter Case Study
READING 103: Upper Hunter History of Aboriginal and European contact: Part B
- READING 103B : Aboriginal
Men, Private Contractors and Lid dell Power Station
- READING 104E: Traditional knowledge
