Bob Reece

'Some Early Indigenous Initiatives in Treaty-Making'

Abstr act:

  Unlike North America and New Zealand, there were no formal treaties

negotiated with the indigenous peoples of Australia during the period of

European settlement/invasion. Consequently, their bargaining position in

relation to land, sovereignty, validity of  traditional law, compensation

etc. has been relatively weak. This paper will explore the reasons for this

lack of treaties, at the same time highlighting historical situations

(notably early Swan River Colony)  where indigenous groups for various

reasons indicated their willingness to 'talk terms', to come to some more

or less formal accommodation with the whites, and why these initiatives