Programs
soldiers
- Indigenous soldiers' stories of pride, pain after world wars told in Facing Two Fronts exhibition"A tale of two worlds, one of inequality and racism, the other of mateship and patriotism, is being traced in a new National Archives of Australia digital exhibition ... "
Resources
- Indigenous Australians in service during World War II | Department of Veterans' Affairs"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a long history of military and civilian service. Despite laws that prevented or discouraged their enlistment, First Australians have served with distinction and bravery in most major conflicts and peacekeeping operations involving Australia ... "
- Indigenous Exceptionalism under Fire: Assessing Indigenous Soldiers in Combat with the Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and American Armies during the Second World War." ... Bob Hall concluded his groundbreaking book on Aboriginal Australians in the Second World War, Black Diggers , by saying that in 'making their contributions, Aborigines and [Torres Strait] Islanders put beyond reasonable question their right to a place in the "digger legend"—and reinforced their claim to be respected Australian citizens'.[16] Such salvage history, often writing into a void in public and scholarly awareness, emphasised high Indigenous enlistment rates and success in battle in part because it strengthened the case for recognition and inclusion within the national consciousness ... "
- 'Part of our own story': representations of indigenous Australians and Papua New Guineans within 'Australia Remembers 1945-1995' - the continuing desire for a homogeneous national identity"Throughout 1995 the Australia Remembers 1945-1995 programme sought to commemorate and celebrate Australia's involvement in the Second World War in ways which included all Australians and reflected the continuing potency of the Anzac legend ... "
- Rectifying ‘the Great Australian Silence’? Creative representations of Australian Indigenous Second World War service"Until the publication of Robert Hall’s landmark book The Black Diggersin 1989, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were essentially ‘written out’ of Australia’s Second World War history ... "
- Australia : NAIDOC Week the role of indigenous servicemen and women"ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Islander people have made a valuable contribution to Australias defence since the Boer War, and this NAIDOC Week we celebrate their history, culture and achievements ... "
- Serving their country"…We’re not citizens, yet we’re willing to die for this place, we’re willing to die for non-Indigenous Australians, have a think about that one… — Gary Oakley
