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Beyond Awakening - Aboriginal Tribes of NW Tasmania: A history
First published December 31, 2008
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About the author
Ian McFarlane
2 books1 followerIan McFarlane has taught Aboriginal Studies at the University of Tasmania. He specialises in studies of Aboriginal people from Tasmania’s north-west region and has been a contributor to the ‘History Wars’ debates.
source: http://tasmanianartsguide.com.au/arti...
Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
source: http://tasmanianartsguide.com.au/arti...
Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 15, 2011
McFarlane discusses the demise and eventual complete destruction of the Tasmanian Aborigines of the NW of the island. To a large extent, the dispossession discussed is also the history of the Van Diemen’s Land Company, a sheep-farming enterprise, and its cruel, deceitful and ambitious Chief Agent, Edward Curr. Curr was also the local magistrate and had virtually untempered power, which he used and abused to wrest the land from the local Aborigines, causing countless murders along the way.
The book then goes on to discuss the fate of the NW Aborigines who were taken by ‘the Conciliator’ George Augustus Robinson, to Flinders Island, and those who joined Robinson’s ‘Friendly Mission’.
There was a questionable assertion made on p39 “Although Aborigines in Tasmania possessed none of the religious connections to the land associated with mainland Aboriignes – links formalized by rites, ceremonies and dreaming lore …” McFarlane presents no evidence to support this, so it stands as a broad-sweeping, significant statement on lifestyle and spirituality, apparently based on a personal opinion of McFarlane's.
Aside from this, the book is well-researched and readable. As usual, it leaves us with the question - where to from here? Do we slide along with the myth that although it is tragic and wrong, Aboriginal culture and people in Tasmania have been exterminated? Or do we acknowledge the survivors of this terrible period in history, and support them in their venture to rebuild their culture and their community so that we can have a second go at coming together, as equals this time? Perhaps finishing off the unfinished business of a treaty would be in order?
The book then goes on to discuss the fate of the NW Aborigines who were taken by ‘the Conciliator’ George Augustus Robinson, to Flinders Island, and those who joined Robinson’s ‘Friendly Mission’.
There was a questionable assertion made on p39 “Although Aborigines in Tasmania possessed none of the religious connections to the land associated with mainland Aboriignes – links formalized by rites, ceremonies and dreaming lore …” McFarlane presents no evidence to support this, so it stands as a broad-sweeping, significant statement on lifestyle and spirituality, apparently based on a personal opinion of McFarlane's.
Aside from this, the book is well-researched and readable. As usual, it leaves us with the question - where to from here? Do we slide along with the myth that although it is tragic and wrong, Aboriginal culture and people in Tasmania have been exterminated? Or do we acknowledge the survivors of this terrible period in history, and support them in their venture to rebuild their culture and their community so that we can have a second go at coming together, as equals this time? Perhaps finishing off the unfinished business of a treaty would be in order?
Displaying 1 of 1 review