HASS · Year 10 · Rights and Freedoms · Term 2

Early Indigenous Activism in Australia

Students will explore early Indigenous activism, including the 1938 Day of Mourning and the role of figures like William Cooper and Charles Perkins.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9H10K05

About This Topic

Early Indigenous activism in Australia traces resistance to colonial policies through key events and leaders. Students investigate the 1938 Day of Mourning, when the Aborigines' Progressive Native Association protested the 150th anniversary of British invasion as a day of grief, not celebration. William Cooper petitioned the King for Aboriginal voting rights and representation, while Charles Perkins organized student walks against discrimination in the 1960s. These actions highlight non-violent strategies like petitions and public demonstrations.

This content supports AC9H10K05 in the Rights and Freedoms unit by prompting analysis of protest goals, methods, and comparisons to the US Civil Rights Movement, such as shared tactics of marches and calls for equality. Students practice historical skills like evaluating primary sources, assessing significance, and recognizing continuity in advocacy.

Active learning benefits this topic by bringing personal stories to life through role plays and source handling, which build empathy and critical analysis. Students connect emotionally with activists' challenges, making abstract concepts of rights and resistance immediate and relevant to ongoing discussions of reconciliation.

Key Questions

1. Analyze the goals and methods of early Indigenous protest movements.
2. Explain the significance of the 1938 Day of Mourning.
3. Compare early Indigenous activism to the US Civil Rights Movement.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the primary goals of early Indigenous protest movements in Australia, such as achieving citizenship and land rights.
• Explain the historical context and significance of the 1938 Day of Mourning as a pivotal moment in Indigenous activism.
• Compare and contrast the strategies and outcomes of early Indigenous activism in Australia with the US Civil Rights Movement.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of non-violent protest methods employed by figures like William Cooper and Charles Perkins.
• Identify key individuals and organizations involved in early Indigenous activism and their contributions.

Before You Start

Colonisation of Australia

Why: Understanding the initial impact of British settlement and subsequent colonial policies is essential for grasping the context of Indigenous resistance.

Basic Concepts of Rights and Citizenship

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of what rights and citizenship entail to analyze the demands made by Indigenous activists.

Key Vocabulary

Day of Mourning	A protest event held on January 26, 1938, by Indigenous Australians to mark 150 years of colonial rule and to highlight the discrimination and suffering of Aboriginal peoples.
Assimilation Policy	A government policy aimed at absorbing Indigenous Australians into the wider white society, often involving the removal of children from their families and the suppression of Indigenous culture.
Aborigines' Progressive Native Association	An early Indigenous rights organization founded in the 1930s, which played a significant role in advocating for Indigenous rights and organizing protests, including the Day of Mourning.
Petition	A formal written request, signed by many people, appealing to authority, in this context, to the British Crown or Australian government for specific rights or changes in policy.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Indigenous activism started only in the 1960s.

What to Teach Instead

Efforts like Cooper's 1930s petitions and the 1938 Day of Mourning predate later events. Timeline activities in small groups help students sequence events chronologically and see the long arc of resistance.

Common Misconception

Early protests achieved nothing significant.

What to Teach Instead

They raised awareness and influenced policy debates, paving the way for future gains. Source analysis in role plays lets students debate impacts, revealing subtle shifts in public opinion.

Common Misconception

Only educated urban Indigenous people protested.

What to Teach Instead

Activists came from diverse backgrounds, united by shared injustices. Gallery walks expose varied profiles, prompting discussions on broad participation.

Active Learning Ideas

Gallery Walk: Activist Timelines

Small groups research and create timelines for Cooper, Perkins, and Day of Mourning events using primary sources. Post timelines around the room. Students walk the gallery, adding sticky notes with connections to US Civil Rights. Debrief as a class on patterns in methods.

50 min·Small Groups

Role Play: Day of Mourning Protest

Assign roles as activists, government officials, and observers. Groups prepare speeches on mourning vs celebration. Perform in a simulated Sydney gathering. Reflect in journals on goals and emotional impact.

45 min·Small Groups

Venn Diagram: Cross-Movement Comparison

Pairs chart similarities and differences between Australian Day of Mourning and US March on Washington. Use images and quotes. Share one unique insight per pair with the class.

30 min·Pairs

Petition Drive Simulation

Whole class drafts a modern petition inspired by Cooper's. Vote on wording, collect signatures. Discuss effectiveness of petitions vs other methods.

40 min·Whole Class

Real-World Connections

• The Australian Human Rights Commission continues to work on issues of Indigenous rights and reconciliation, drawing lessons from historical activism.
• Contemporary social justice movements, both within Australia and globally, often employ strategies like public marches and awareness campaigns that echo the methods used by early Indigenous activists.
• Museums and archives, such as the National Museum of Australia, preserve and interpret the history of Indigenous activism, making these stories accessible to the public and informing current understanding.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Facilitate a class discussion using the prompt: 'Imagine you are an Indigenous Australian in 1938. Based on what you have learned, would you participate in the Day of Mourning? Explain your reasoning, referencing the goals and potential impacts of the protest.'

Quick Check

Provide students with a short primary source quote from William Cooper or Charles Perkins. Ask them to identify which key vocabulary term best describes the action or idea presented in the quote and explain their choice in one sentence.

Exit Ticket

On an exit ticket, ask students to list two specific goals of early Indigenous activists and one method they used to achieve those goals. Then, ask them to write one sentence comparing a tactic used in Australia to one used in the US Civil Rights Movement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the significance of the 1938 Day of Mourning?

The Day of Mourning marked 150 years since British arrival as a tragedy for Indigenous peoples, not a celebration. Organized in Sydney, it protested lack of rights and called for citizenship. This event spotlighted ongoing dispossession and built momentum for activism, contrasting official commemorations.

Who was William Cooper and his contributions to Indigenous rights?

William Cooper founded the Aborigines' Progressive Native Association and led a 1933 petition with 1,800 signatures to the King for voting rights. Though rejected, it publicized demands. His work exemplified persistent, organized advocacy against assimilation policies.

How does early Indigenous activism compare to the US Civil Rights Movement?

Both used non-violent methods like petitions, marches, and public protests against segregation. Cooper's petitions mirror MLK's letters, while Perkins' Freedom Ride echoes US bus boycotts. Differences include Australia's focus on citizenship versus US voting rights enforcement.

What active learning strategies teach early Indigenous activism effectively?

Role plays of protests immerse students in activists' viewpoints, building empathy. Gallery walks with timelines and sources encourage peer teaching on methods. Simulations like petition drafting develop skills in persuasion and analysis, making history dynamic and connecting past to present reconciliation efforts.