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As demonstrated in Source 7.23, this makes explicit to students that, unlike common
assumptions which place British people as the first to initiate and maintain contact with
Indigenous Australians, this had, in fact, occurred at last two centuries previously. This
debases assertions of Britain as the sole source of the bringing of ‘civilisation’ to Indigenous
Australians. In addition, Torres Strait Islanders, rather than only Aboriginals, are included in
this sourcebook, the first example of acknowledging Indigenous Australian diversity in all the
textbooks analysed during this project. Even though the histories of Torres Strait Islanders are
not acknowledged, an important step has been taken that at least acknowledges Torres Strait
Islanders and mainland Aboriginals as being distinct groups.
7.5.3 Representations of interactions between Indigenous Australians and the
early colonizers.
Beginning with the questions contained in Source 7.24, Unit 7: Aboriginal life before
European contact in Living history (Gurry, 1987) is set up in a way that encourages an active
inquiry process through teacher pedagogy and student activities.
Source 7.24. Example of inquiry questions in Living history (Gurry, 1987, p. 98)
1788, the year of the arrival of the First Fleet, is regarded as an important date in Indigenous
histories, however the textbook ensures students develop a thorough understanding of the
slow process of colonising the entire Australian continent, thus highlighting that many
Indigenous communities were not affected at this point in time (see, for example, Source
7.25). Doing this, unlike other textbooks in this era highlights the complexities of British
colonisation.
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