131-051 Aboriginal & Pacific Islander Histories

Formerly available as 131-253/353. Students who have completed 131-253 or 131-353 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually 25 points of first year history, indigenous studies or Australian studies, see Prerequisites.

The philosophy of the course is to approach the histories of Indigenous peoples in Australia and the western Pacific in relation to European colonisation and contact between Indigenous peoples and settlers, traders and colonial governments. It is thematically arranged around the focal points of the structural underpinnings of colonial powers; conflict and control; and impact and accommodation and will be approached in the context of critically examining historical debates and arguments. It will consider particularly the nature, development and resilience of racial thought; the ways in which legislative control was exerted over Indigenous peoples by colonial powers; and the ways in which Indigenous peoples in Australia and the Pacific responded to, and effected such aspects of colonisation as land dispossession and forced relocation and removal from land and families. Students will gain access to Indigenous perspectives as well as, and in relation to, non-Indigenous writing on the major issues and themes of colonisation in Australia and the western Pacific. The central teaching objective of the course is to encourage thinking and writing that revolves around the nature of colonial contact between Europeans and Indigenous peoples in their own land, and the immediate and long term consequences of these interactions.

• demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources;

• show critical thinking and analysis through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

• demonstrate understanding of social, ethical and cultural context through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument.

A 1500 word essay 35% (due mid-semester), a 2500 word essay 45% (due at the end of semester), presentation of a 500 word tutorial paper 10% (due during semester), tutorial attendance and class participation 10%.

A subject reader will be available.