Sociology

Assignment Topic: Most indigenous peoples worldwide have suffered as a result of colonisation, although at a local level experiences will

differ. Assignment Question: Compare the effects of colonisation on Australia’s two Indigenous groupings, Austr
NO newspapers.
All research reprots/journal entries etc.
try not to use internet sources unless it is a reference source
Body of the essay – First Part:

Colonialism/colonisation

Who was doing it?

When were they doing it?

Why were they doing it (driving forces)?

What laws/understandings prevailed?
Interactions with indigenous peoples

What ideologies underpinned interactions?

What were the usual consequences?
Aboriginal experience

Form – terra nullius
Dispossession
Land
Culture
sovereignty
Christianity (as oppression)
Torres Strait experience

Form – annexation
Dispossession (sovereignty, but not land)
Christianity (integrated – Coming of the Light)
Example introduction:

Background: Colonisation has impacted profoundly on indigenous communities worldwide and this essay examines and details some of those

impacts.

Roadmap: Initially, the concept of colonisation will be explained, including the forces that were driving colonisation and the usual ways

it was achieved. At a general level, the ideologies underpinning the colonisers’ interactions with indigenous peoples will also be

described. A comparison will then be made between the experiences of colonisation for the Aboriginal peoples of Australia and the

experiences of colonisation for Torres Strait Islander peoples. In particular, the issue of dispossession from land and/or culture will be

analysed, as well the influence of Christianity.

Argument: As a result, it will be argued that Christianity was generally an oppressive force for Aboriginal peoples, whereas for Torres

Strait Islanders, Christianity was easily integrated with traditional beliefs.