The role of indigenous reserves and missions in Australian history

Indigenous Australian reserves, missions, and stations were an important part of Australian history.

It was claimed that they were established to help Indigenous Australian people transition into European society, and to provide them with access to education and medical care.

Unfortunately, many of these institutions were plagued by racism and discrimination.

In this article, we will look at the history of reserves and missions in Australia and explore their impact on the First Nations people.

Indigenous Australian reserves, missions, and stations were established in the early days of European settlement in Australia.

The first ones were set up in the mid-19th century.

Reserves were usually located on the outskirts of towns and cities. Aborigines Protection Board (APB), the government authority responsible for Aboriginal affairs, had control over who could live on reserves. 

Indigenous Australian people were generally not allowed to leave reserves without permission, and they were often required to live by strict rules.

For example, they might be banned from drinking alcohol or speaking their own language. 

Missions were similar to reserves, but they were usually located in more remote areas. They were established by religious groups such as the Catholic Church or the Anglican Church. 

Like reserves, missions were often places where Indigenous Australian people were forced to live by strict rules.

However, life on missions was usually more hard-line than on reserves. They often had a strict regime, with rules about diet, clothing, and behavior. 

Aboriginal stations were large tracts of land that were set aside for Indigenous Australian people to live on.

Unlike reserves and missions, stations were not usually run by government or religious organizations.

The Aboriginal stations were managed by government officials who were appointed by the APB.

These officials were typically white landowners who employed Aboriginal people as workers, often under conditions of exploitation.

Stations were often very isolated, and life on them was often very hard. Indigenous Australian people living on stations often had to fend for themselves, with little help from the outside world. 

The Aborigines Protection Act of 1909 was a turning point in the history of Aboriginal reserves, missions, and stations.

The Act gave the APB more power to control the lives of Aboriginal people living on these institutions. 

Under the Act, the APB could force Aboriginal people to live on reserves and missions, and they could make rules about what they could and couldn't do. 

The Aborigines Protection Act was a controversial piece of legislation, and it was eventually repealed in 1969. 

Many Indigenous Australian people did not want to leave their traditional way of life and live on reserves or missions.

They found the conditions on these institutions to be very difficult, and they experienced a great deal of racism and discrimination from the Europeans who ran them.

The conditions on many of these reserves, missions, and stations were poor. There was often a lack of food and medical care. Many Indigenous Australian people died from diseases such as smallpox and influenza. 

Racism was also a problem on many of these institutions. Indigenous Australian people were often treated as second-class citizens.

They were not allowed to marry Europeans, and their children were taken away from them and sent to white schools. 

Despite the challenges, Indigenous Australian people were considered to 'benefit' from living on reserves, missions, and stations.

They were given a European education and medical care that they would not have otherwise had access to. 

However, any 'benefit' from European education and medical care is a reflection of the paternalistic and colonial mindset of the time.

It's crucial to understand that this 'benefit' was often perceived from a Eurocentric viewpoint and did not account for the significant cultural loss and trauma inflicted.

The Aboriginal reserve system finally ended in 1969 with the repeal of the Aborigines Protection Act.

However, the damage had already been done. The Indigenous Australian reserve system was a key part of the government's assimilation policy.

This policy aimed to 'integrate' Indigenous Australian people into white society. 

The assimilation policy had a devastating effect on First Nations culture and language.

Many Indigenous Australian people lost their connection to their traditional way of life and their land.

The legacy of the Indigenous Australian reserve system is still felt today. Many First Nations people feel that they were a form of cultural oppression.

The current socio-economic challenges faced by many Indigenous Australians can be traced back to these historical policies and practices.

There are many Indigenous Australian people who live in poverty and lack basic services such as education and health care.