Self-Guided Trail Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Are Advised That Right Wrongs Includes Images and Names of People Who Are Now Deceased
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Welcome to Nyoongar boodjar. You are standing on ancient ground. The State Library of Western Australia acknowledges the Whadjuk Nyoongar people, traditional custodians of the land on which we stand. This exhibition reframes the symbolic victory of the 1967 referendum, its impact on who we are, and what we can become. It explores Aboriginal and ‘67 Referendum - the WA Story Torres Strait Islander stories of resistance, survival and activism in Western Australia. Self-Guided Trail Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that Right Wrongs includes images and names of people who are now deceased. This exhibition has been curated in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and these stories are told from this perspective. AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION This self-guided trail aims to support In 1901, the Australian Constitution stated: “Aborigines not to be counted in reckoning your exhibition visit. While looking population,” and the Commonwealth would legislate for any race, except Aboriginal people. at the items on display, consider: This left the States in charge of Aboriginal affairs. What does it mean to ‘advance together’? • Why have they been selected? • Whose point of view is expressed? Back in your classroom: Research how many Constitutional referendums have been successful. Why do you think there are so few? Leaflet ‘Right wrongs write YES for Aborigines on May 27’, 1967. Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. National Library of Australia, 234750697. Labour Day procession, Perth, 1966. State Library of Western Australia, 381895PD YES The 1967 referendum proposed two changes to the Constitution relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A ‘Yes’ vote would remove discriminatory wording and allow the Federal Government to make laws on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In the exhibition, find the words from the Constitution that the referendum proposed to change. What do you think the ‘Yes’ vote meant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Western Australia? Looking at the table, identify the total percentage of people in Western Australia voting ‘Yes’. Aboriginal Rights Council banner on kombi with children in roof rack, 1970. State Library of Western Australia, 380345PD. In 1967, rural areas like Kalgoorlie generally had more ‘No’ votes. Why do you think this was? Do you think people in those areas would vote differently today? What did the referendum not do? FRONTIER WARRIORS Fanny Balbuk ‘TO THE END OF HER LIFE SHE RAGED AND STORMED AT THE USURPING OF HER BELOVED HOME GROUND… THROUGH FENCES AND OVER THEM, BALBUK TOOK THE STRAIGHT TRACK TO THE END. WHEN A HOUSE WAS BUILT IN THE WAY, SHE BROKE ITS FENCE-PALINGS WITH HER DIGGING STICK AND CHARGED UP THE STEPS AND THROUGH THE ROOMS.” Daisy Bates. Daisy Bates, My Natives and I: Incorporating The Passing of the Aborigines: A Lifetime Spent Among the Natives of Australia, PJ Bridge (ed), with an introduction by Bob Reece, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, WA, 2004, p 65 Fanny Balbuk, State Library of Find more Swan River Stories cms.slwa.wa.gov.au/swan_river Western Australia, 253420PD. In what way was Fanny Balbuk a frontier warrior? How was her style of protest different to Tommy Dower’s? On the map of Perth in 1838, can you find Lake Irwin? What do you think the wetlands provided for Fanny? Townsite of Perth in Western Australia from a survey in 1838. State Library of Western Australia, 24/2/19. FRONTIER WARRIORS Find the original petition submitted by Tommy Dower and others. Look at the date – what does it tell you Tommy Dower about Aboriginal land rights claims? “WHERE OLD COLONISTS BE? WHO MINDEM SHEEP FOR OLD COLONIST AND FINDEM WATERHOLE AND SHOWEM WHITEFELLOW WAY OVERLAND TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA! WHY BLACKFELLOW.” Describe Tommy Dower’s contribution to Western Australia and Aboriginal recognition. Alexander Forrest’s 1879 Kimberley expedition, Tommy Dower is seated on the right, 1879. State Library of Western Australia, 066175PD. At home or in the classroom , try to find the newspaper article with Tommy’s petition using the digitsed newspapers in Trove. trove.nla.gov.au/ The West Australian, 21 March 1893, p. 2 CHANGING THE RULES PUSHING BACK Find the certificate of citizenship presented Daisy Bindi under the natives (citizenship rights) regulations for Dudley Clare (and child) Watch the video on the iPad. and Shirley Clare, Derby, 1967. What was Daisy Bindi protesting against? • Discuss: How would you feel if you had to apply for citizenship in your own country? What would it have been like to carry your What might have happened if Daisy’s protests hadn’t succeeded? citizenship papers with you all the time? What risks were being taken? • Discuss: What did people granted citizenship certificates have to give up? Do you think you would have applied? Sadie Corner during her nursing training at Bethesda Hospital, Melbourne, 1950. State Library • Why did Sadie Canning (nee Corner) of Western Australia, BA1340/Era3 apply for citizenship? What is a yandy? What are some of the different uses for these tools? Find Sadie’s letter to the editor. • What was different for Sadie in Victoria compared with her life in Western Australia? • Reflect: The 1967 referendum was believed to have ended discriminatory laws. As you view the rest of the exhibition, reflect on whether you think this is true. Why/not? State Library of Western Australia, 112546PD. OUR VOICES LAND AND IDENTITY What does the word Coolbaroo mean and why was it chosen? The Old Swan Brewery building is situated next to Kings Park.Why is this area of land significant to the Whadjuk Nyoongar people? What did the demonstrators want to have in place of the brewery? Why? Find the exclusion zone on the map of Perth. Compare the zone with the map of Perth in the booklet on page 4. How would this exclusion have affected people? What other issues are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people facing today? What do you think the Coolbaroo Dances and Westralian Aborigine newspapers achieved? What is your vision for Australia’s future in respect to Aboriginal human rights? Find the printing plate for this photograph: ‘Five of the Coolbaroo Ten’ State Library of Western Australia, 112546PD. Westralian Aborigine, October-November 1955, p. 3. Aboriginal flag flying at Roe 8 protest, 1 February 2017. Gnangarra flickr collection Returning Museums and libraries around the world have found new ways of reconnecting ‘67 Referendum - the WA Story their collections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The State Library has developed Storylines as a way of providing direct access to the significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander photographic collection that have been donated over the last 127 years. Browse thousands of photographs, find your family and THE RIGHT WRONGS PROJECT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE STATE LIBRARY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, assist the State Library in identifying THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS. and returning this vital material. You can access Storylines on any internet connected device or computer by browsing http://storylines.slwa.wa.gov.au Online resources 27 May – 3 September 2017 http://www.abc.net.au/rightwrongs/ Free exhibition http://museum.wa.gov.au/ Ground Floor Gallery referendum-1967 State Library of Western Australia http://museum.wa.gov.au/ 25 Francis Street, Perth referendum-1967 For State Library education information visit; slwa.wa.gov.au/our-services/educators.