In Good Faith?

In Good Faith?

Governing Indigenous Australia through God, Charity and Empire, 1825-1855

Authored by: Jessie Mitchell

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Description

In the early decades of the 19th century, Indigenous Australians suffered devastating losses at the hands of British colonists, who largely ignored their sovereignty and even their humanity. At the same time, however, a new wave of Christian humanitarians were arriving in the colonies, troubled by Aboriginal suffering and arguing that colonists had obligations towards the people they had dispossessed. These white philanthropists raised questions which have shaped Australian society ever since.

Did Indigenous Australians have rights to land, rationing, education and cultural survival? If so, how should these be guaranteed, and what would people have to give up in return? Would charity and paternalism lead to effective government or dismal failure – to a powerful defence of an oppressed people, or to new forms of oppression?

In Good Faith? paints a vivid picture of life on Australia’s first missions and protectorate stations, examining the tensions between charity and rights, empathy and imperialism, as well as the intimacy, dependence, resentment and obligations that developed between missionary philanthropists and the people they tried to protect and control. In this work, Mitchell brings to life hitherto neglected moments in Australia’s history, and traces the origins of dilemmas still present today.

For more information on Aboriginal History Inc. please visit aboriginalhistory.org.au.

Details

ISBN (print):
9781921862106
ISBN (online):
9781921862113
Publication date:
Jan 2011
Note:
Aboriginal History Monograph 23
Imprint:
ANU Press
DOI:
http://doi.org/10.22459/GF.01.2011
Series:
Aboriginal History Monographs
Co-publisher:
Aboriginal History
Disciplines:
Arts & Humanities: Cultural Studies, History; Social Sciences: Anthropology, Indigenous Studies
Countries:
Australia

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