‘To be truly postcolonial, we must address indigenous concerns fairly’

Duncan Ivison is professor of

political philosophy

at the

University of Sydney

. Sharing his insights with

Times Evoke

, the eminent academic discusses the ‘paradox’ liberal democracies face regarding

indigenous people

today, how these dilemmas can be solved — and an extraordinary Aboriginal grassroots movement emerging in Australia now:

How we treat indigenous communities today reflects, in important ways, a fundamental moral impairment stemming from the history of the founding of liberal countries.

Colonialism

shaped

many modern liberal states

, including Australia, Canada, the US and, to some extent, India. That history of colonialism is often very hard for liberal self-understanding to get a hold of — and this reflects in how some of these states continue to treat indigenous people.



However, until we fairly and justly address indigenous peoples’ rights, we will not be able to lay colonialism to rest. If we are ever really to live in a postcolonial world, this is a fundamental part of that project. We have to recognise the way colonialism shaped much of our understanding of the nature of the state, the legitimacy of power and the extent to which its actions are justified.

Many indigenous people now live in the midst of modern, liberal, democratic societies and engage with those values. But the continued destruction of indigenous ways of life — and the racism indigenous people often face — reflects the paradoxes that still haunt liberal states. Discrimination and racism cannot be the values liberal democracies claim to have.



We have to engage wholeheartedly with a moral claim now — we have an obligation to understand how indigenous communities are treated, given the moral wrongness of colonialism and its ongoing impacts on people. But alongside, there are benefits to be derived from the engagement with indigenous worldviews. Indigenous people have lived in Australia for over 60,000 years. From conservation to philosophy, science to art, there is a tremendous amount that Australian society can learn from engaging in a dialogue with these traditions.

Sometimes, a perception arises that indigenous communities are opposed to economic development or modernisation — this hardens stands. But often, it’s not so simple. Frequently, it is the manner in which such projects are carried out, involving the expropriation of traditional territories without any consultation or compensation, or causing adverse impacts on local communities’ well-being, which creates a distance. In 2016, in the US, a decision was made to build the Dakota Access Pipeline across the lands of Native American tribal groups — there was very little consultation or discussion of the potential harm to water resources being done. Such cases then are not simple debates about being ‘for’ or ‘against’ economic development. There are issues here of authority, well-being and legitimacy. The violation of rights and interests is the issue, rather than a fundamental difference on economic development.



Today, any awareness — and institutional responses — we have of indigenous concerns is due to their community movements. This activism is all the more remarkable when you think of the forces ranged against them, from the original colonising powers to now — theirs is a story of resistance, resilience and resurgence. A current example comes from Australia today. With one of the most difficult histories of colonialism, Australia has long struggled over indigenous peoples. But now, there is a remarkable grassroots movement organised by indigenous lawyers, community workers, politicians and others, which is changing the terms of the debate.

When history boomerangs: First impacted by colonialism, Australia’s Aborginal communities now grapple with their rights in a liberal democracy
A document called the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’ has emerged — it outlines a

new indigenous voice

in Australian politics. It has changed the stagnated ‘us and them’ debate and is steadily gaining traction with government and the broader mainstream community. One of its most important features is that there should be an indigenous voiced parliament — a consultative body to advise the government on matters that affect the vital interests of indigenous people, and this should be recognised in the Australian constitution. It’s not been fully accepted by the government yet but the process has progressed remarkably — this grassroots movement could fundamentally change Australian attitudes and institutions in relation to indigenous people. This is one example of the long and deep resilience indigenous communities have shown.

It’s important to now think of how we can ensure the indigenous voice is present across all our liberal, democratic institutions. This is essential to move on from our burdensome colonial pasts. We need to think about the enduring injustices of our colonial legacies and create new reforms and innovations now which can ensure a genuine indigenous voice is heard in a genuine liberal society. Herein, we also need to understand the importance of land for indigenous peoples and ensure that their land rights are appropriately accounted for. The fact remains, if liberal states cannot deal with the centrality of indigenous land rights, then they will continue to struggle with the question of who has rights — and who belongs.

Don't miss the yearly horoscope 2025 and Chinese horoscope 2025 for Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig zodiac signs. Spread love this holiday season with these Happy New Year wishes, messages, and quotes.