Thomson of Arnhem Land

A Study Guide Thomson of Arnhem Land INTRODUCTION LIBBY TUDBALL Thomson of Arnhem Land tells the story of Australian anthropologist, photographer and journalist, Donald Thomson and his lifelong struggle for Aboriginal rights. Beginning in the 1930s, the fi lm documents Thomson’s passionate interest in Indigenous culture. It follows his journeys through Arnhem Land and explores his relationships with the great clan leader, Wonggu, and his friend and guide, Raiwalla. The story reveals his professional battles and traces his fi ght to preserve Indigenous culture under threat from assimilation policies that demanded Aboriginal people must become like white Europeans. Thomson of Arnhem Land also gives us an insight into the personality clashes and politics behind the assimilationist policies that aimed to deny Indigenous Australians their culture. s family, 1935 (Thomson 1935 (Thomson s family, ’ Donald Thomson Thomson Donald with Wonggu Victoria) Museum Collection CURRICULUM LINKS course in Anthropology at Sydney Between 1941 and 1943 Thomson The fi lm will have interest and University, and then accepted a was Squadron Leader in the Royal relevance for senior students of Studies cadetship as a journalist at the Australian Air Force. In this role of Society and Environment, History, Melbourne Herald. he worked again with Wonggu and Anthropology, Indigenous Studies, his sons. He organized Arnhem Land English, Drama, Photography and In 1928 Thomson obtained a grant Aborigines into a Special Media Studies. of 6000 pounds to work among the Reconnaissance Unit to protect people of Cape York. He made three Australia’s north coast against invasion BEFORE WATCHING THE FILM expeditions to this area, in 1928, 1929 from the Japanese. • Work through the following and 1932-‘33. He worked in Arnhem background reading, activities and Land, living with the local people in Thomson received an OBE in 1945 questions to develop your understanding 1935 and in 1936-‘37. He delivered a for his military service in New Guinea. of Thomson and key facets of the report to the Federal Government in He continued to lobby the then leader historical period in which he lived and 1937 recommending that the unique of the Opposition, Robert Menzies, worked. culture of the Arnhem Land peoples to ensure the survival of the Yolngu should be preserved. Thomson focused peoples’ cultures. Thomson was greatly THOMSON’S BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS on their special relationships with saddened when Menzies sided with the Donald Thomson was born in Melbourne the land and their complex social, assimilationists. In 1950, he received and studied natural science at the cultural and economic structures. But a Doctorate in Anthropology from the University of Melbourne. While there, he the assimilationists, led by Professor University of Cambridge. In 1957, developed a profi ciency in photography, A.P. Elkin, had more infl uence over 1963 and 1965, he led expeditions to particularly of scientifi c and natural government ministers and policies, so the Gibson and Great Sandy Deserts. history subjects. After graduating in Thomson’s views were ignored. 1925, he took a one-year diploma 72 Caledon Bay, 1935 (Thomson Collection, Museum Victoria) Thomson retired from the University of area was held or ‘owned’ by a ‘clan’ (a we Europeans … They are unaware Melbourne in 1968 as the Professor of cluster of families with special kinship of the Conveniences that are so much Anthropology. He was involved in setting traditions). While some customs were sought after in Europe. They live in a up the Australian Institute of Aboriginal shared across Australia, there were tranquillity which is not disturbed by Studies, and served on its council. He many individual differences depending the inequality [between the rich and wrote numerous books and articles. on the region and the local environment. the poor] … The earth and the sea Over thousands of years, the people of their own accord furnish them with Throughout his life, Thomson fought had adapted their way of life to be in all the necessary things in life … They for Aboriginal rights. The thousands of harmony with the land and resources do not desire Magnifi cent houses and artifacts he collected, the detailed fi eld around them. A key element of life live in a warm and fi ne climate, so notes he wrote, and the more than was sharing. Food, skills in hunting that they have little need for clothing 10,000 exquisite photographs he took, and gathering, social relationships, … [M]any to whom we gave cloth, provide a cultural record of traditional spiritual links with the land and special etc., left it carelessly upon the sea Aboriginal life beyond value. The knowledge of laws and sacred places beach and in the woods as a thing Thomson collection in Museum Victoria were shared and passed on by each they had no manner of use for; in is considered one of the most signifi cant generation. short they seemed to set no value ethnographic collections in the world. upon anything we gave them … Thomson continued his fi ght for FIND OUT MORE ABOUT This, in my opinion, argues that they Aboriginal rights until his death in • scientists’ beliefs about the origins of think themselves provided with all the 1970. His ashes were scattered over the Aboriginal Australians; necessaries of life …1 waters of Arnhem Land by Wonggu’s sons. • archaeological evidence of early Cook claimed ownership of the land Aboriginal life; for the British and observed that the Family Collection) Family • Using these facts and further Smith by Dr Julian (Photograph Thomson Donald information you gather when you • the elaborate kinship systems of watch the fi lm, prepare a timeline of Aboriginal Australians; and Thomson’s life. You could do this as individual or group work. Present the • the spiritual traditions of the Dreaming. timeline as a poster or wall chart. Captain James Cook fi rst sighted the HISTORICAL BACKGROUND east coast of Australia in 1770. Historians now believe Indigenous He sailed into Botany Bay and Australians have lived here for more selected it as a suitable place for than 60,000 years. Estimates of the British settlement. His impressions of Aboriginal population in 1788 vary Aboriginal society were recorded in his – from around 300,000 to one million. journal: Thomson The people lived in hundreds of groups, each having their own language. All [T]hey appear to be some of the land within a recognized traditional most wretched People on earth; but in reality they are far happier than 73 – the Indigenous population realized that Until the 1960s Australian governments the Europeans were invaders. They tried had little respect for and knowledge of to defend their rights and beliefs the rich cultural traditions of Aboriginal but had no hope of defeating the and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They well-armed Europeans. Many thousands tried to ‘assimilate’ Aboriginal people of Indigenous people lost their lives. into white society and make them adopt Colonial governments established white culture and lifestyles. However, reserves where Aborigines would be they underestimated the powerful links ‘protected’ and ‘segregated’ from of the Aboriginal people with their land Europeans. Many of these were and culture and the strength of the Wonggu, a Yolngu elder, 1935 (Photograph by Donald Thomson Thomson by Donald 1935 (Photograph elder, Yolngu a Wonggu, Thomson Collection Museum Victoria) Victoria) Museum Collection Thomson missions controlled by churches. traditions that are still being passed through the generations in oral stories, Aborigines did not farm the land or • There are now many written sources music, dance and art. place fences around it. The British which document the confl ict between government declared the land terra Aboriginal groups and Europeans in • What is assimilation? nullius – land owned by no-one – and the 19th Century and 20th Century. Do believed this gave them the right, as some further research to fi nd out what • Why might the process of assimilation the fi rst Europeans to occupy the land, happened in various parts of Australia. be devastating to people of any culture to claim ownership. This meant that whose way of life is being denied? all land became Crown land and all • Why do you think the government Aboriginal property rights were ignored. decided to segregate the Aborigines? • What evidence can you fi nd today of renewed respect and celebration of • What impressions does Cook’s journal The breakdown by Europeans of Indigenous peoples’ cultures? give of Aboriginal Australians’ values? traditional Aboriginal culture continued in the 20th Century. Most Aborigines In the 1960s Aboriginal people began • On what basis did Cook believe it were separated from their land and to speak out, demanding land rights, was right for him to claim possession of forced to live on missions or government respect for sacred sites and greater Australia? reserves, under the authority of a self-determination. In 1967, a national ‘protector’. Many thousands of referendum was held which resulted • After you have watched the fi lm, Indigenous children were taken away in all Indigenous Australians being decide if Thomson would have agreed or from their parents, made government counted in the census for the fi rst disagreed with Cook’s views. wards, and trained as domestic servants time and having the right to vote. or farm workers. They were paid poor Since then, pride in being Aboriginal • Why didn’t Aborigines fence or farm wages and had very few rights. has been reasserted, and nationwide the land? organizations are calling for • Locate and read stories of children of reconciliation. • Find out what happened to the the ‘Stolen Generations’. concept of terra nullius after the Mabo • What is self-determination? judgement. • How did the government justify the taking of the children? • Why is this such an important concept Across Australia, the arrival of the for Indigenous Australians? Europeans in the 19th Century had a • What impact do we now know this disastrous impact on Aboriginal people.

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