Indigenous Studies

Attwood, B., and Arnold, J 'Introduction', In: Power, Knowledge and Aboriginies, La Trobe University Press, Melbourne, 1992, pp. 1-16 In his essays, Bain Attwood identifies the European Australian way of 'knowing' Aborigines. Attwood articulates Aboringinalism as a method of dialogue which produces, 'authoritative' and 'essential truths' about Indigenous Australians. The author examines the European scholar attitude of Indigenous inadequacy in regards to self representation; the style of thought based upon an 'epistemological' and 'ontological' distinction between "…

…in relation to the knowledge it produces and the relationships of power to be revealed. This essay was vastly edifying and assisted me to identify the various recent shifts in Aboriginal discourse as well as the further shifts that need to occur in order to have an, 'authentic Australian culture'. (132 words) Dodson, M., 'The end in the beginning: re(de)fining Aboriginality', In: Blacklines Contemporary Critical Writing by Indigenous Australians, Melbourne University Press, 2003, pp. 25-42