Changing Government's Policies over time
The changing policies section of the museum will be divided up into the same four major sections as the event itself: protection, assimilation, integration and self-determination. It will follow a timeline-style layout (horizontally set out) in order to show the gradual change of the issue over the period of time which will define and describe each of the sections.
In keeping with the personal aspects of the museum, there be a link to more personal accounts and primary sources involving Indigenous Australians’ experiences with the changing policies.
In keeping with the personal aspects of the museum, there be a link to more personal accounts and primary sources involving Indigenous Australians’ experiences with the changing policies.
Overview
Over time, the government's stance on the area has gradually changed as a result of gradual internal social activism by the Australian public and the pressure of changing ideologies in human and civil liberties. The changes in policies began in the mid-1800’s and continue to be an ongoing topic in the Australian public. This section will provide an overview of the topic and all the sub-sections regarding it as well as addressing the reasoning for the government’s decisions to change policies towards Aboriginal people.
Protectionism
This section will give a description of protectionism and protection boards including laws which came with and policies which came with it such as the need to be civilised and educated to European standards, with lack of freedom and rights. The administration of reserves and missions also came about around that time, which influenced Aboriginals with European culture. This was also the period around which other major events in Australian-Aboriginal history began such as the Stolen Generations, so this will also be addressed. This section will include by a display of sources mainly focusing on the introduction of protection boards – which established authority and jurisdiction – and will include an excerpt from "Aboriginal Australians: Black Responses to White Dominance, 1788-2001", a book which will talk about the issue more personally.
ASsimilationThe assimilation section will discuss the new change in policies in 1951 Assimilation Policy by then-Federal Minister for Territories, Paul Hasluck, including the ideology of “think white, act white”, and the intent of eventually living like European Australians. This section will be focussed on discrimination towards Aboriginals in all areas including housing, education, health, employment and loss of culture and land with the aim of relating to the viewers on a more personal level.
|
Integration
This section will define the key aspects of the area, differing integration from assimilation. It will talk about the continual change in policies after the questioning of assimilation. It was an idea which began to realise the value and rights of maintaining Aboriginal culture while integrating in the wider Australian community. This will also include addressing the 1967 referendum and its role in improving overall government policies. This section will display personal recounts of the effects on Aboriginal people of the changes from assimilation to integration.
Self-Determination
This section will make emphasis on the major development in policies over the course of time, and address the Whitlam government’s role in the early 1970’s and the Racial Discimination Act (1975). The new freedoms of Aboriginals will be discussed as well as the governments’ other involvements (in creating the ATSIC). It will also have a display including a recording of Gough Whitlam’s speech to Vincent Lingiari of what actions the government would take to establish reconciliation, and the inclusion of other significant pictures.
In the section of the gallery, there will also be an interactive element involving touch screen computers, in which questions and activities will be asked to be answered or completed and the visitor must use their knowledge gained in going through the exhibit to complete each task. This will place an emphasis on retaining the information as opposed to simply reading it. As this topic is controversial within both parties (Indigenous Australians and the Australian government), all topics of discussion will be handled with precaution to ensure the museum does not come under too much government critique.