Cleared Out: First Contact in the Western Desert

AUSTRALIANA ABORIGINAL INDIGENOUS

This is the story of first contact between a young aboriginal woman, Yuwali, and European Australia. It happened in 1964, but its genesis began in 1947, when the Commonwealth Government announced a rocket testing range was to be located at Woomera – Yuwali’s country. Highly illustrated with images from the sixties.

In 1964, a group of 20 Aboriginal women and children in the Western Desert made their first contact with European Australians – patrol officers from the Woomera Rocket Range, clearing an area into which rockets were to be fired. This book presents their story told through oral history, archival research, photographs, and film footage.

Important history of Australia. Insight into ancient nomadic culture of desert people of Australia and contact that began the process of disintegrating that culture and creating conflict for people of ancient law. Insight into complications of nomadic vs. settlement, ancient law vs. white fella law, hunting vs. provided food; family life vs. separation.

xv, 208 p. : ill., geneal. table, maps, ports. ; 24 cm. #220523

Includes index.

Bibliography: p. 191-202.

“Aboriginal Studies Press for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies”

Johnson, Peter, 1957-  |  Nixon, Yuwali  |  Woomera Rocket Range  |  Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies