Colonization Has Many Names

Abstract

Any reflection on what the Australian government (in general, even though leadership changes from time to time) decides or does to/for Australia’s indigenous people must take into account the history of White colonization and ask, in the interests of Aboriginal people, “So what?” This is the key question behind this chapter. How the question is answered will, of course, be different between communities (indigenous and nonindigenous) and between different Aboriginal people. “So what?” is the question I pose toward colonizers as well as to those who talk and work in response to colonization. I raise the question in this chapter, and suggest that we do something about what we think needs to be done. It is important not only to ask the question, but also to work toward doing something about it!