Book Launch: Indigenous Self-Determination in Australia

Histories of the colonisation of Australia have recognised distinct periods or eras in the colonial relationship: ‘protection’ and ‘assimilation’. It is widely understood that, in 1973, the Whitlam Government initiated a new policy era: ‘self-determination’. Yet, the defining features of this era, as well as how, why and when it ended, are far from clear. In this collection we ask: how shall we write the history of self-determination? How should we bring together, in the one narrative, innovations in public policy and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives? How (dis)continuous has ‘self-determination’ been with ‘assimilation’ or with what came after? Among the contributions to this book there are different views about whether Australia is still practising ‘self-determination’ and even whether it ever did or could.

Join us at the National Museum of Australia to celebrate the launch of 'Indigenous Self-Determination in Australia: Histories and Historiography' where key speakers Professor Ian Anderson AO and Professor Asmi Wood will share their reflections on the book topic.

This event will be livestreamed on the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia's Facebook page. 

To attend this event, please select an 'attendee (in-person)' ticket. To receive details about how to watch the livestream, please select a 'livestream only' ticket.