Defence Indigenous Engagement: Advancing Reconciliation or Militarised Inclusion?

Department of International Relations 75th Anniversary Public Lecture Series

Indigenous peoples have a long and fraught history of military service in Anglo-settler societies (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US). In the 20th century, they contributed human power and skills to settler militaries to fight wars that significantly shaped settler nations and identities. Nevertheless, the Indigenous military contribution was overlooked or denied because Indigenous peoples were not considered citizens or were banned from enlisting in the military. This exclusion was instrumental in further marginalising Indigenous peoples from settler national societies and identities. Indigenous peoples have long been advocating for the recognition of their service, securing some wins at the turn of the century. As the language of Reconciliation takes hold in Anglo-settler societies, commemorative establishments are paying more attention to the historical contribution of Indigenous people to Defence and the military is seeking to increase Indigenous military participation. Despite these efforts, commemoration remains selective and Indigenous retention in the military remains low and a key challenge of inclusion.

This lecture will explore the complex relationship between Indigenous peoples and the military, examining the historical context of exclusion and the contemporary efforts to recognise Indigenous service and increase participation. By analysing the challenges and opportunities of Indigenous military engagement, this presentation will interrogate whether Defence Indigenous engagement is a tokenistic act of militarised inclusion or if it can advance national reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

About the speaker
Federica Caso is a Lecturer in International Relations in the Department of Politics, Media, and Philosophy at La Trobe University. Prior to this, she was a sessional lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Queensland. Her research focuses on gender and race in the military, war, and peacebuilding. She also has expertise in visual politics, war commemoration, and settler colonialism. Her book Settler Military Politics: Militarisation and the Aesthetics of War Commemoration was recently published by Edinburgh University Press. This book maps the relationship between settler colonialism and the development of the military and war commemoration in Australia. 

About the chair
Beverley Loke is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International Relations at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University. Beverley’s research agenda is motivated by complexity and contestation in an evolving global order. Her research interests include the politics of great power responsibility and hegemonic ordering, global knowledge production practices, China’s foreign policy and the international relations of the Indo-Pacific.


This Public Lecture is held as part of a series celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Department of International Relations, located within the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at The Australian National University. You can find more information about the Department’s history and the other activities being held to mark the anniversary throughout 2024 here.


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Image credit: Matthew Paul Argall, Australian Flag and Australian Aboriginal Flag, Flickr.