Colonisation & Decolonisation

Explainer: what is decolonisation?

Key terms related to colonisation and decolonisation, including self-determination, 'settler-colonial', and 'neocolonial'. Includes ways to support decolonisation.

'Non-Indigenous people in settler-colonial societies can start by asking:

whose Country do I live on - what nation?
if my land was stolen, my culture and sovereignty denied, what rights would I want, need and expect?
who on Country must I listen to and work with?'

Native Land Digital

Interactive mapping project covering the globe, showing Indigenous nations with a global address search that enables you to check the Indigenous country. Produced in Canada by Indigenous-led Native Land Digital.

The map includes a disclaimer 'This map does not represent or intend to represent official or legal boundaries of any Indigenous nations. To learn about definitive boundaries, contact the nations in question.'

Convivial Thinking: Critical Decolonial Collaborative - Raï Blog

Short blog posts by members of a global, open group of scholars working on post- and decolonial approaches to development and beyond. ‘Conviviality,’ means equity, mutual respect for others and nature, and assuming joint responsibility for how we live, act, and engage.

Decolonising the written word

The ways in which the publishing industry is grappling with the project of decolonisation.

'As an editor, a relatively new part of my brief is to be on the alert for colonial exceptionalism. What has surprised me is the amount of material I would have waved through a few years ago.'

Decolonization Is for Everyone

Discussion of the brutal history of colonisation in Canada and the processes of historical amnesia that prevents its affects being addresses.

'Whether you have ancestors that were colonisers or colonised, we are all colonised people.'

Center for Experimental Ethnography’s “Settler Colonialism, Slavery, and the Problem of Decolonizing

Resources from the 2021 conference “Settler Colonialism, Slavery, and the Problem of Decolonizing Museums" co-presented by the Center for Experimental Ethnography and the Penn Museum. The event looked at 're-evaluating practices and asking 'what might repair look like?'. Photo gallery and a decolonisation video playlist.

Image shows mural 'Decolonize And Chill/We Are Still Here', by artist and community activist Jaque Fragua.

What Does It Mean to Decolonize a Museum?

An article looking at different interpretations of what decolonizing a museum means. Challenging white supremacy, reflecting diversity, choice of language and the importance of having conversations about power and authority are discussed. The piece ends with a quote from Olga Viso: museums "must position themselves as learning communities, not impenetrable centers of self-validating authority.”

Speculative fiction as advocacy for decolonisation in Australia

Article on Diversity Arts Australia's 'arts as advocacy' model of research which facilitates creative, open-ended responses and focuses on creating a supportive environment for deep reflection.

“This research and advocacy approach is about shifting culture, not just imposing targets. I’m a big believer in imposing targets, but that’s not going to shift systemic racism. At the end of the day, targets are a response that retrofits a system that doesn’t accommodate us.” ~ Lena Nahlous

CALD: Why some say this label is failing Australians

Discussion of the CALD label (culturally and linguistically diverse) used in Australia (like BAME: Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) which seek to to bundle disparate people together just because they are different to the majority identity. The Diversity Council of Australia is trialing a new acronym: CARM (culturally and racially marginalised) to reflect the experience of being raciliased.

"the CALD acronym is hopelessly inadequate to assist organisations because it doesn't mention race at all.'