Indigenous politics

A ground-breaking work - and a call to arms - that exposes the ongoing colonial violence experienced by First Nations people. Chelsea Watego examines the ongoing and daily racism faced by First Nations peoples in so-called Australia. Rather than offer yet another account of 'the Aboriginal problem', she theorises a strategy for living in a society that has only ever imagined Indigenous peoples as destined to die out. Drawing on her own experiences and observations of the operations of the colony, she exposes the lies that settlers tell about Indigenous people. In refusing such stories, Chelsea narrates her own: fierce, personal, sometimes funny, sometimes anguished. She speaks not of fighting back but of standing her ground against colonialism in academia, in court and in the media.

This book is useful for learning about complexities in First Nations people’s political activities today. This book is a harder read. Written by a non-Indigenous academic who interviewed 30 First Nations political leaders and activists, this book explores what it is like to be a First Nations person engaging in politics and informing policy. It reveals the diversity of First Nations peoples’ views, approaches and topics of engagement.

This book is useful for indepth background knowledge about First Nations people and the Australian Constitution. The 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart was the result of widespread consultation on the question of how First Nations people should be recognised in the Australian Constitution. This book looks at the making of the Australian Constitution, the 1967 Referendum, the process that lead to the Uluru Statement and responses to it. It is co-written by Cobble Cobble human rights lawyer Professor Megan Davis and non-Indigenous law academic Professor George Williams.

This book is useful for learning about strands in the Australia Day debate.
Wiradjuri journalist Stan Grant uses his own family background to explore the tensions around Australia Day. As a descendent of convicts and Wiradjuri warriors and peacemakers, he advocates moving away from ‘either/or’ debates to a more inclusive approach to Australia and Australian identity.

This book is useful for learning about First Nations activism for rights. It has been compiled by two non-Indigenous historians who focus on First Nations people in Australian history. There is some explaining text but the majority of the book is excerpts from documents such as newspaper clippings, posters, meeting minutes, photos and letters. It reveals that First Nations people and fellow agitators have been protesting their treatment and campaigning for rights since the early years of colonisation.

This book is useful to learn about contemporary First Nations identity politics in Australia. Wiradjuri author Dr Anita Heiss was one of nine First Nations people who challenged a non-Indigenous newspaper columnist for racial discrimination under the Racial Discrimination Act. Heiss uses her own identity and family background to explore who determines and constructs First Nations peoples’ identities, and who can write what about First Nations people and their identities.