Reconciliation, Assimilation, and the Indigenous Peoples of Australia
Damien Short
Volume 5, Number 1 (2002) 5 (1): 24-49
Keywords Reconciliation, Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights, Nationalism, Cultural Appropriation, Assimilation, Colonialism, Settler Culture, Practical Reconciliation, Treaty Federalism, Official Reconciliation in Australia, Indigenous Sovereignty, Incorporation of Indigenous Symbols, Internal Colonisation, Australian Government Policies
Abstract
Reconciliation processes addressing mass atrocities must balance truth, justice, and forgiveness to restore relationships. This analysis critiques Australia's approach as assimilationist—prioritizing settler interests over genuine atonement for Indigenous peoples. Key tensions emerge when incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures into national identity, risking cultural appropriation that undermines sovereignty claims. The shift toward 'practical reconciliation' dangerously elevates self-empowerment over essential Indigenous aspirations like land rights and self-determination. Legal milestones (Mabo and Wik cases) highlight native title's limitations without structural change. The work proposes treaty federalism as an alternative framework to address internal colonization, arguing that genuine reconciliation requires: 1) rejecting imposed settler sovereignty, 2) centering Indigenous political autonomy, and 3) transforming power dynamics rather than symbolic cultural inclusion.
Damien Short
Published January 1, 2002
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Damien Short (Author)
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