Australia Art and Politics

Chronology of Relationships between Aboriginal people and Anglo-Australians

	1788 Beginning of British settlement. 750,000 aborigines.
	1788-1850s a period of conflicts with episodes of resistance to colonial rule and brutal abuse by settlers
	1869 Act for "Protection and Management of Aboriginal Natives" passed in Victoria followed by similar acts in other states begin the ‘protection period’ Reserves are established where Aboriginal people are in virtual prison administered by the government and missions. Aboriginal people are systematically forced to change their ways of life while being denied the rights of citizens.
	1918 In the Northern Territories the Aboriginal Ordinance Art forbids mining on Aboriginal Reserve Land
	1934 The Arnhem Land Aboriginal Reserve declared
	1930s Policy of Assimilation is adopted as an attempt to force Aboriginal people to adopt a European way of life or suffer extinction. The policy was delayed by World War II and put into effect mostly in the 1950's. During this time, children were forced into dormitories and were often forcefully taken away from their families and adopted by white families. This led to the ‘stolen generation.’
	1938 Australian Aborigines Conference held in Sydney to demonstrate inequality and injustice. Coincides with the celebration of 150 years of white settlements
	1949 Aboriginal ex-servicemen are allowed to vote
	1953 beginning of atomic testing on Aboriginal land in South Australia. Many aboriginal people suffer from radiation.
	1957 Federal Council for the Advancement of Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders is established
	1962 all Aboriginal people are allowed to vote, but some territories still prevent them from exercising their right.
	1963 Bark Petition against mining in Gove Peninsula drawn by elders in the affected area in Arnhem Land. The petition is rejected because of ‘insufficient signatures’
	1965 The federal government adopts a policy of integration of Aborigines.
	1966- growing protest against mistreatment and ignoring rights
	1967 changes to the Australian Constitution recognize Aboriginal full citizenship and equal rights are approved by a referendum
	1972 A policy of self-determination is adopted by the government. Aboriginal rights movement gain momentum. Numerous protests centered on questions of land. Tent Embassy established in Parliament House and forcibly removed. The government froze all applications for mining on federal aboriginal reserves.
	1977- land claims are brought to courts leading to land sometime awarded to Aborigines. Numerous struggles between Aborigines and mining companies
	1984- Lengthy negotiations between the government and different Aboriginal organizations on methods to resolve land issues.
	1988 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Death in Custody. As Australia celebrates 200 years of white settlers, Aboriginal protest intensifies.
	1990 ATSIC, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission established by the federal government. It is an elected body of all Aboriginal and Torres Straights Islanders established to advise the government on Aboriginal programs as part of the government policy of self-determination
	1992 The Mabo Case in the Australian High Court overturns the doctrine of terra nulius (unoccupied land) opens the way to ‘native titles’ claims.
	1993 Paul Keating, a progressive Prime Minister acknowledges the injustices of the past but stops short of an official apology. The demand for an apology becomes a contentions issue. Michael Tjakamarra 'reclaims his mosaic.
	1995 National inquiry on the ‘stolen generation’ begins.
	1996- a more conservative government reneges on earlier steps regarding land rights
	2000- The Olympic Games provide an opportunity for Australia to project an image of a progressive nation under the current polity of ‘reconciliation’.

Major issues facing Aboriginal people today

Equal rights – although legally Aborigines have full rights today, long established practices of discrimination are often perpetuated by indifference.

Aboriginal Deaths in Custody – Aboriginal people are represented in a much higher rate in prison population. There is an alarming number of cases of aborigines who die while incarcerated.

The Stolen Generation – the forceful removal of aboriginal children, mostly those with some non-aboriginal blood in them, was a standing policy during the assimilation period. This led to serious problems of identity, alcoholism, and crime.

Land Rights – From the early days of settlers, land held by Aboriginal people was considered terra nullius (empty land.) This provided legal cover for settlers taking over land formerly held by aborigines. Starting in the 1960s aboriginal claims center of issues of land. Early on the main issues were prevention of railroad and mining activities in sacred lands. In 1992 the Mabo case involving a Torres Straight person, Eddie Mabo and other claimants brought up a case demanding right over land in Murray Island. He won on appeal in the High Court of Australia overturning the terra nullius doctrine. Since then there were several developments for and against the right of Aboriginal people to claim land. It also initiated lengthy discussions about the need to ‘interface’ between native law and Australian legal system.

Copyright – One of the recent claims that grew out of the legal discussions is the desire to find ways of grounding Aboriginal rights to stories and artistic motifs based on their ownership of specific Dreaming.