Preface

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This issue features some of the best work submitted by students enrolled in Aboriginal Political History: Ideas, Action and Agency at the University of Technology Sydney in 2016 and 2017.

Written in the context of a federal election in 2016, ongoing debates about constitutional recognition and the need for an Indigenous voice to parliament, as well as the anniversaries of significant milestones such as the 50^th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, the 25^th anniversary of the Mabo Case and the 20^th anniversary of the Bringing Them Home Report, the range of topics covered in this issue is diverse. There are some common threads that weave through the work of these emerging scholars, including the persistence of the ‘great Australian silence’ first identified by WEH Stanner in 1969; the ongoing failure of successive governments to address the systemic disadvantage and racism experienced by Indigenous Australians; and the persistence and resilience of Indigenous people and culture in spite of the ‘disruptions’ imposed by colonisation (Yunkaporta 2010). The reviews of films, books, speeches and artworks provide a contemporary perspective on iconic masterpieces as well as critiquing some of the more recent contributions to the field of Aboriginal history; while the site visits highlight the importance of engaging with the deep and multi-layered history of Australia.

We hope you enjoy reading the issue as much as we enjoyed teaching the content.

Heidi Norman, Jennifer Newman and Anne Maree Payne