Reconciliation

Resources

The war against Indigenous Australia/ns: Foucault, racism and social work education
Tony Fletcher Hawke Institute 13 January 2010
In a series of lectures at the College de France 1975–1976 entitled ‘Society must be defended’, Michel Foucault made the following observation: ‘sovereignty’s old right – to take life or let live ... came to be complemented by ... the power to “make” live and “let” die’. Foucault connected this disposition with socio-political events and concluded that modern societies, though describing their machinations as being in a state of peace, are internally at war with subjects or bodies produced as belonging to an ‘inferior species’. This paper connects Foucault’s understanding of ‘racism’ with the concept of ‘fields of visibility’ to explore the creation of culturally competent practices among social work students when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Civilising - A continuing Australian project?
Tim Rowse Australian Review of Public Affairs August 2009
It seems to many historians that Australia was an exception within the story of British colonisation in the extent to which the native presence here was denied, dismissed and, subsequently, degraded. And for many, terra nullius has become the doctrinal summation of Australia's exceptional, and distinctly shameful, history. Many, but not all: Bruce Buchan's Empire of Political Thought is a new work uses the conceptual pair 'civilization' and 'savagery' to explain relations between the colonisers and colonised in Australia.

Patrick Dodson on Reconciliation

Filmed on 23 September 2009

The social problems that Australia's indigenous population face are vast. While the apology from the Rudd government was an acknowledgment of injustices of the past, many agree that this is only a starting point for a more meaningful engagement that needs to occur between Aborigines and the non-indigenous population. Here at UNSW, Patrick Dodson puts forward his arguments for furthering the dialogue in order to create a more harmonious society between all people of Australia and to also improve the relationship we have to our environment.

Patrick Dodson is an Aboriginal leader and consultant. He is the chairperson of the Kimberley Development Commission. Dodson was formerly the chairman of the "Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation", and former commissioner into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. He was the winner of the 2008 Sydney Peace Prize.

Paul Keating's Redfern Statement 1992

Whatever Happened to Reconciliation
Professor Mick Dodson Speech in 2007.

True Reconciliation
Video and resources at reconcilie website developed by Reconciliation Australia.

Market researching 'reconciliation': The Australian Reconciliation Barometer
Tim Rowse (Professorial Fellow, Centre for Citizenship and Public Policy, University of Western Sydney).
In February 2009, Reconciliation Australia published Australian Reconciliation Barometer, an attempt to measure, through survey research, the progress (or lack of progress) of 'reconciliation' between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The research and (evidently) the interpretation of the data are the work of Auspoll. The project is interesting in a number of ways.

Reconciliation Timeline
A timeline with links to resources of reconciliation from 1768 to 2007

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

UNDRIP was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 13 September 2007. Go to www.un.org for more information.

Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) - Recognition of Aboriginal Customary Laws

View the 1986 report by ALRC on the Recognition of Aboriginal Customary Laws. These recommendations were endorsed by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.

Face the Facts - Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC)

Information on racism and prejudice in Australia. It is divided into three sections: Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Migrants and Multiculturalism, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Protecting Human Rights in Australia - A community Education Kit: Indigenous RightsPublic Interest Advocacy Centre

Public Interest Advocacy Centre
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre fact sheet on Indigenous Rights covers Right to Family, Sovereignty and self-determination, Social and economic situation, Native Title and more. It points out failings and Australia's responsibilities and suggests ways of improving Indigenous Rights in Australia.

Addressing Disadvantage
Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR)
This paper presents an explanation of why disadvantage is so widespread among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and what needs to happen before this disadvantage can be overcome. The paper summarises the major issues and provides the basis for discussion and action.

Protecting Human Rights in Australia - A community Education Kit: Housing
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
While Australia has a history of providing housing schemes that encourage housing affordability and crisis accommodation, people do not have a legally enforceable right to adequate housing, as defined under international law. There is a growing gap between the amount of affordable accommodation available and the number of people who need it.

Protecting Human Rights in Australia - A community Education Kit: Racial and Religious Discrimination
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Australia has had national laws prohibiting racial and religious discrimination since 1975. However, there are still noticeable gaps in the legislation, most significantly in protection against religious discrimination and acts of hatred. Discrimination and racism can be 'direct' and 'indirect'.

Protecting Human Rights in Australia - A community Education Kit: Social Security Rights
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Everyone has a right to social security, including social insurance. An Independent Review undertaken in 2002 found that the operation of the penalties system was often "arbitrary, unfair or excessively harsh". It also found that "breaches were imposed too frequently [and] penalties for the breaches are often too severe, thereby causing unnecessary and unjustifiable hardship".

Rebutting the Myths - Some facts about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR)
Debunks stereotypes regarding Aboriginal people and alcohol, employment, land and other myths such as the perception that Aboriginal people get special treatment. Be aware that most of the statistical information is from the 1990s.

Sustaining the Reconciliation Process
Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR)
In this booklet, the Council asks the Australian community to take actions that will support a reconciled Australia. This includes making a commitment to addressing disadvantage, achieving economic independence and recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Rights. Suggestions for what you can do are listed under different categories, for example individuals, voluntary organisations, governments and political parties. The Council has identified the following as the main areas in which action is needed: leadership; education; a people's movement for reconciliation; sharing of histories, cultures and heritage and legislative protection of the reconciliation process.

How to start a Local Reconciliation Group
Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR)
A Local Reconciliation Group (LRG) is a number of people who have formed into a group to support the reconciliation process and advance it within their area. Hundreds of LRGs have been formed throughout Australia in recent times. Some groups consist of a handful of people while others have hundreds of active members. This page lists initial steps towards forming an LRG.

Local Reconciliation Group Toolkit
Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR)
The Toolkit contains information to help individuals and groups at various stages of involvement with reconciliation. It will assist people who want to start a local reconciliation group or sustain or grow an existing group. It may also be useful to people generally interested in reconciliation or those working for reconciliation in educational institutions, community organisations, faith groups, government or business. It will provide some context for those who have not been part of a Local Reconciliation Group before, including information about what local groups do and their history. It will help groups to plan what they want to do, manage themselves, fundraise, make the most of their strengths, build links with other groups, work with the media, have fun and make a difference.

The Local Symbols of Reconciliation
Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR)
A local symbol of reconciliation represents the shared history and culture of a community. The recognition and inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and peoples is missing from many communities in Australia.

A local symbol of reconciliation is something that the community feels represents its shared history and culture. It can be anything that the local community decides on and does not necessarily need to be a built structure. Through case studies this kit shows how you could develop a local symbol of reconciliation.

Examples in the kit are the transformation of an abandoned quarry and tip into a park, using audio tapes on Indigenous history and culture to produce written information and displays, research into the history of a school cultural exchange program, permanent displays in local museums, a granite memorial to the Aboriginal people who were killed by stockmen, mural walls depicting the influence of local Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, and information panels and artistic symbols explaining the use of the natural environment by Aboriginal people.

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