Description

Title: After the Dreaming
Author/Publisher: William Edward Hanley Stanner / Australian Broadcasting Commission
Publication Year: 1968
Format: Paperback

Paper presented at the Boyer Lectures 1968; Racial relations & consequences, Phillips native policy, very brief note of kidnapping of Arabanoo, Colby & Benelong; attitudinal changes, unimportance of native question; Discusses development of attitude & relations since 1930 Tennant Creek area; Removal of Warramunga people from tribal lands by gold miners 1934; intensification of pastoral industry around 1880s & obliteration of tribes as a result; Early ethnologists & their work, native method of fighting, relationship to land & consequences through deprivation; brief account of some leaders; Yagan, Midgegooroo, Durmugam, customs, law & etiquette, mineral industry & effects in Arnhem Land, attitudes to new way of life; killing the dreaming, assimilation problems, land rights, law & Crown lands.

64 pages ; 21 cm. Stanner, W. E. H. (William Edward Hanley), 1905-1981, author.

Synopsis

Originally presented as the 1968 Boyer Lectures, 'After the Dreaming' is a seminal work by the eminent Australian anthropologist, William Edward Hanley Stanner. This non-fiction text delves into the complex history and evolving nature of relations between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous society.

Stanner's lectures offer a critical examination of prevailing attitudes and policies towards Aboriginal people in Australia. The work explores the profound and often devastating consequences of colonisation, challenging contemporary understandings of the 'native question' and Australia's national identity.

• The Boyer Lectures Series: This volume presents the significant 1968 Boyer Lectures, an annual series of talks by prominent Australians on a wide range of subjects. Stanner’s contribution marked a crucial moment in national discourse on Indigenous affairs, reaching a broad public audience.
• Historical Perspectives on Race Relations: Stanner meticulously traces the development of attitudes and policies, including early colonial encounters and the impact of figures such as Governor Phillip and his native policy. He briefly touches upon the stories of individuals like Arabanoo, Colby, and Bennelong, highlighting the early complexities of cross-cultural interaction.
• Regional Case Studies and Dispossession: The lectures provide concrete examples, discussing the development of attitudes and relations in the Tennant Creek area since 1930. A notable focus is given to the removal of Warramunga people from their ancestral tribal lands by gold miners in 1934, illustrating the harsh realities of resource exploitation and its human cost.

As a vital piece of Australian anthropology and social commentary, 'After the Dreaming' remains an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the historical context and ongoing legacy of Indigenous-settler relations. Its insights into racial dynamics and cultural dispossession resonate strongly to this day, making it a significant acquisition for collectors of Australian non-fiction.

Condition

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