The repatriation of indigenous remains in Australia is the process by which human remains are returned to their ancestral communities from museums or private collections. The aim of this essay is to critically assess the arguments within the article written by Dr Denis Byrne titled The Ethos of Return: Erasure and Reinstatement of Aboriginal Visibility in the Australian Historical Landscape. Repatriation and visibility are two serious topics debated between archaeologists, historians, and Indigenous people. The importance of scientific research and understanding is weighed heavily against the desire of Indigenous people to return their ancestors remains to their source communities. This essay critically assesses both the arguments within the …show more content…
Dr Byrnes disciplinary background is in archaeology and the cultural politics of heritage in Australia. He has written three books and over forty journal articles surrounding the issue present both in Australia and Asia. Within this, the main focus of research is on the ‘the emotional and effective dimensions of our response to old things and places’ (Western Sydney University 2017). Byrnes work focuses on the migration within Australia and the material traces which connect history and heritage and the practices which transcend this nation-state frame (Western Sydney University 2017). This is apparent when analysing this paper as it focuses on the repatriation and reburial of Indigenous Australians and the apparent segregation between the archaeologists need for historical construction and, as the paper is titled, the ethos of return for the Indigenous Australians ancestral …show more content…
This correlates to the ideology of heritage and identity within Australia. Australia was known as terra nullius (land unoccupied) when European settlers colonised due to their belief that indigenous Australians were a different race similar to fauna (Byrne 2003). Jones and Harris (1998) expand on this notion with the idea that European settlers deemed themselves the first occupiers of Australian land due to their discourse surrounding the permanency and entitlement of land ownership. This Euro-centric construct of land ownership is discussed within the article with specific importance placed colonials concept of being an inheritor of the land rather than an invader and also the historical European concept of racial identities and their link to ‘the nation’ (Byrne 2003, p. 78). It was seen that because the indigenous Australians didn’t comply to the settler’s social construct of home, then the land wasn’t owned and therefore any remains were also free for the taking. This reason was simply that identity was impossible without land (Byrne 2003). This idea is presented as one of the more poignant within the text and great importance is placed on the need for outsiders or Europeans to implement a more cultivated view on heritage. Miller (2009) analyses the assumptions of European
On June 3 1992, the legal decision of the Mabo case was made by the High Court, the highest court in Australia’s legal system (Webb, 2008). For thousands of years before the arrival of the British in 1788, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders have had their strong connection to the Australian Land. When the British arrived in 1788, it was declared that the country was terra nullius (land belonging to nobody), which resulted to the absence of recognition towards the connection between the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders and the Australian land. The declaration of terra nullius also resulted to the British taking land without agreement or payment towards the indigenous Australians (Webb, 2008).
Eddie Mabo and the Mabo Decision As campaigns for improved human rights were gathering momentum across all of Australia (and indeed the globe) in the 1980s, five Torres Strait Islanders (Eddie Koiki Mabo, Sam Passi, Reverend Dave Passi, James Rice and Celuia Mapo Salee) began a long campaign for ‘Native Title’, forever changing the country’s views on Indigenous Australians and the impact of settlement. The notion of land rights was often misunderstood by Australian people who believed they would have their suburban lands taken off them. This meant non-Indigenous support for native title was rare. However, Mabo real aim was to receive legal recognition of their traditional lands in the Torres Strait – area that because of terra nullius was
In recent years, the issue of Australia Day marking the ‘invasion’ of ‘white man’ has sparked controversy between the Indigenous and non-indigenous populations of Australia. In his article titled “January 26th is the birth of modern Australia – deal with it”, Peter Moore advocates that the date of Australia Day should not be changed and he provides humour and solidarity for those who share his perspective. He does this through heavy use of attacks and generalisations with an informal, aggressive tone. Conversely, Natalie Cromb, with her article titled ‘Australia Day/ Invasion Day debate: #ChangeTheDate – but not right now”, criticizes the idea of the date changing at present time as she attempts to rally supportive readers to stand up to the
An opposing piece to this, entitled ‘Advance Australia, fair!’ by Tristan Fairchild was published. In his piece, Fairchild uses his experience as a cultural liaison supervisor to persuade his audience that changing the date of Australia day can only be a good thing. Fairchild employed a authoritative and passionate tone to reason that celebrating a day that is viewed as an invasion is un-Australian and that we should rather be celebrating a rich and extensive culture. Joined to this article was a picture of an Aboriginal flag being raised, rather than the British flag, at Botany Bay by James Cook.
Reynolds reveals the moderate and censorship of historic writings in the 19th and 20th century, which achieved for government representation and agendas, in order to ignore the destruction of Indigenous Australian life and culture but praise the lives and pioneering spirits of the explores and colonizers. This Eurocentric vision is exposed as weak and racist and only a facade for foreign affairs. The situation of Australian history, violence, massacre, murder, rejection and dispossession that emphasises the idea that history has been repressed to serve the white political agenda, an “abuse of arbitrary power”. Reynolds uses adjective statements to make the audience question the political motivation for the government’s actions and the purpose of its active policies. Reynolds acknowledges the disillusionment of education, he exposes and counters with evidence that is irrefutable, exposing the atrocities of ‘White invasion’.
Robert Drewe’s 1996 novel The Drowner is, among other things, a representation of Western Australian lifestyle, culture and identity in the late 19th century. At the time, Australia was still a young nation; an “underdog” among Western countries. However, numerous gold rushes brought wealth and prosperity to the nation, attracting millions of immigrants from mainly European countries. Australia’s national identity developed into one centred around the values of hard work, perseverance and mateship—values which are still central to our identity today.
Smith continues his pattern of strong emotive language whilst depicting the poor and inhumane treatment of the Aboriginals and how in accordance to the newly aquatinted British laws and customs, they were “for the most part, invisible and discounted”. Statements such as these are used to position the reader to feel sympathy towards the Aboriginals as they come to terms with the full extend of the hardship and discord faced by them. Moreover, adding to the understanding of how tirelessly throughout history and continuing today, they have fought to obtain rights equal to those of a white Australian. Smith then continues by appealing to the readers sense of sustainability. By recounting how the Aboriginals “nurtured” and “preserved” Australia and how the life of modern Australian isn’t sustainable, and how we, should seek guidance and assistance from the Aboriginals.
The High Court said that if native title could survive a grant of pastoral leasing, it would “fracture the skeleton” that gives Australia its land law shape ( Stevenson 1996). Furthermore, ruling that co-existent leasing would be recognised although pastoral lease would prevail (Stevenson, 2014). Additionally, this would also mean that aboriginals who were removed from these areas in the 60’s and 70’s could attempt to claim back their traditional land and that aboriginals who occupied the 42% of land mass would now be recognised as native title (Mark & Clifford, 1997).
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy is a valid, thought-provoking and peaceful protest movement which, although not entirely successful, remains an important means of keeping indigenous issues in the public focus. YET TO FINISH INTRO The Aboriginal Tent Embassy was erected to campaign for a valid, thought-provoking cause using peaceful means. The Embassy’s creation on January 26, 1972 launched a campaign for land and royalties after Prime Minister McMahon announced that the government would not recognise land rights through legislation. (Schaap, n.d.)
Intertwining the struggles of the past and present, PTSD explores the impacts of trauma on Indigenous peoples as Cutland’s artwork showcases the influences of colonialism as it continues to prosper in a contemporary
Aboriginal History, 39, 163–181. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43687040 Tony, S. (2020), ANZAC: the legend’s problem, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-11-11/38318 Yat-sen Li, J. (2023). The Anzac belongs to all of us, not just white Australia.
The award winning novel, The White Earth, thoughtfully written by Andrew McGahan and published in 2004, explores the early history of Australia. This novel effectively gives a silent voice to the Aborigines who were mistreated after they were separated from their land. Shockingly, the
Is it possible to combine efforts to Care for Country with tourism and achieve Indigenous Australia aims? In relation to a specific case study, this essay evaluates Djabugay culture by discussing pro-poor tourism and how it can help the case study, the potential positive and negative impacts, and the impacts the culture faced in the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. In a study conducted by Bottoms (1999), the Djabugay peoples have lived in the rainforest for at least 5,1000 years, and recent evidence has shown the Djabugay peoples have possibly belonged, and still do, there for the last 40,000 years. In 1938, "Djabugay" and "Tjapukai" were namd and "spelt ... by anthropologist, Norman Tindale in 1938" (Tindale, 1974). It was noted by Tindale
In her book Nanberry, Jackie French portrays colonial life as a very confusing and perplexing time for both the Indigenous Australians and the White British Settlers, albeit in different ways. With the Indigenous Australians confused by the sudden invasion of the white settler (ghosts), and the British Settlers becoming confused by the new sights, smells and culture of ‘Sydney Cove’. Through the characters of Nanberry, Surgeon White and Bennelong, the viewer is shown just how confusing their life was at the time of the first settlement in Australia. Nanberry is one of the main characters in French’s book, and is a prime way through which she portrays colonial life as perplexing and confusing. Nanberry was born into, and partially raised by an Indigenous Australian family, however he was adopted by Surgeon White at the tender age of eight or nine.
In his article “Steel Axes for Stone-Age Australians,” Lauriston Sharp discusses the traditional Yir Yoront culture of Australia in the mid 1930s and the importance and function of the stone axe in the in terms of technology, conduct, and belief in the culture. Sharp evaluates that the colonization of various Europeans had resulted into the introduction of new technologies that they had brought along with them. The article mainly focuses on the steel axes that were introduced which outweighed the stone axes previously used by these people and has thus drastically affected the Yir Yoront culture. Ultimately, the author concludes that the traditional culture of this aboriginal tribe had collapsed and a new culture incorporated with European values