Country, Kin and Culture

When Captain Cook landed on Australian shores he came into contact with one of the most dynamic, culturally rich and socially sophisticated societies that had ever existed. This book documents how one such community drew upon their sense of country, kin and culture to survive the incursions of British colonisation. It outlines their histories from before contact to the present, through protectionism and assimilation, to self-determination and reconciliation. It presents the direct voices of Aboriginal people and government authorities through interviews and archival documents. This is a history not just of colonisation and resistance, but of cultural, social and political survival, even in the present day. Dr Claire Smith has worked closely with the Barunga-Wugularr community of the Northern Territory, Australia since 1990. She is a Senior Lecturer with the Department of Archaeology, Flinders University and President of the World Archaeological Congress.