Indigenous Australian Rights and Policies

Historical Context

• Aboriginal Protection Act (1869)
  • Beginning of over a century of policies regarding Indigenous Australians' rights and freedoms.
  • Local government gained power to regulate Aboriginal lives.
  • Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines controlled housing, employment, relationships, and everyday life.

Early 20th Century Beliefs

• Perception of Indigenous Population
  • Belief that Indigenous Australians would eventually die out.
  • Government noticed growing population of "half-caste" individuals, now a derogatory term for mixed-heritage people.

Assimilation Policy

• Definition of Assimilation
  • Taking on traits of the dominant culture until assimilating groups become indistinguishable from the society.
  • Seen as dehumanizing and disregarding cultural differences.
• Goals of Assimilation
  • Allow full-blood Aboriginals to die out.
  • Encourage mixed-heritage individuals to assimilate into white culture.
  • Rooted in white superiority beliefs, considering those with darker skin inferior.

Eurocentrism

• Definition
  • A worldview centered on Western civilization, favoring it over non-Western cultures.

1960 Assimilation Policy

• Impact of the Policy
  • Major reason behind the existence of the Stolen Generations.
  • Although it aimed at providing better health, housing, and schooling, its flawed ideologies overshadowed these motives.
• Flaws of Assimilation
  • Aboriginals not viewed as equals, with their way of life seen as inferior.
  • Settlers imposed their beliefs and physically separated families.

1960s and Indigenous Rights Activism

• Increased Awareness
  • Growing activism and pressure to reform assimilation policies.
  • Awareness of injustices led to questioning white superiority.
• Constitutional Referendum (1967)
  • Proposed changes to include Aboriginals in the population count.
  • Cost approximately $1 million (around $13 million today).
  • Result: 91% in favor of the proposal.
  • Resulted in some rights for Indigenous people: social security, wage equality, etc.

Ongoing Issues

• Despite improvements in rights, ongoing discrimination and problems still faced by Indigenous Australians.