AustLit

'There is something strange going on. O n the one hand, Aborigines traditionally were deemed to be 'without writing', a status that remains even if the terms shift currently from that of historical 'pre-literate' to contemporary 'illiterate'. O r so education and government policy, program, and publication suggest.1 Indeed, in this view, the Aborigine's resistance to literacy heralds a certain notoriety, celebrated in the burgeoning of 'oral' histories, 'oral' literatures, and successful entry into electronic media. Even if pejorative connotations are reversed in these 'oral' reckonings, the prognosis remains: Aborigines don't write.' (Publication abstract)

'Both of these books are introductory texts for Aboriginal history and studies; both are directed towards students, teachers and a more general audience although Aboriginal Australia is far more specific, designed to act as a text for Aboriginal Studies and is an outcome of the Open Learning course, 'Aboriginal Studies: Aboriginal Australia', produced by the University of South Australia, where the three editors work.' (Introduction)

'When I was an external arts student at the University of New England in Armidale in the early 1980s, I had a professor of politics named Colin Tatz, who made an indelible impression on me with his passion and commitment, perhaps even obsession, for the subject of race relations.' (Introduction)