Risdon Cove Massacre
Risdon Cove Massacre
Including the implications for understanding historyBy Jessica
Gleadow
Acknowledgment of Country As a reflection of this institution's
recognition of the deep history and culture of this island, I wish
to acknowledge the Panninher (Par-nin-her) and the
Leterrermairrener (Letter-ramare-ru-nah) People, the traditional
owners and custodians of the land upon which we are meeting on
today (Riawunna Centre, 2014). We acknowledge the contemporary
Tasmanian Aboriginal community, who have survived invasion and
dispossession, and continue to maintain their identity, culture and
Indigenous rights. We also recognise the value of continuing
Aboriginal knowledge and cultural practice, which informs our
understandings of history, culture, science and environment; the
University's role in research and education, and in supporting the
development of the Tasmanian community (Riawunna Centre, 2014).
I take time now as a non-Indigenous Australian to make an
acknowledgment of country to recognise and respect the Tasmanian
Aboriginal culture..(read slide)2
WARNING The content of this presentation includes some horrible
truths about Australian history which may disturb some viewers. If
at any time you wish to step out of the room please feel free to do
so.Included in this presentation are pictures and names of
Aboriginal people who may have passed away. Please contact me if
you would like a copy of the slides without images.
OVERVIEW TimelineEvents leading to the massacreEvidence &
overviewSubjective sources/ controversy Implications for
understanding historyTeaching Activity Links with Australian
Curriculum Final note References
Events surrounding Risdon Cove & the massacre
These will be further outlined 5
3rd May 1804On 3rd May 1804 there was a violent clash between a
group of British settlers and Aboriginal people at Risdon Cove,
near Hobart (then known as Van Diemens Land).There are many debates
surrounding how many Aboriginal people were killed. From various
reports, testimonies made to the committee and earlier accounts we
can determine that at least one Aboriginal women was killed and an
Aboriginal boy orphaned.(Ryan, 2012, pp. 107; Elder, 1988; Connor,
pp. 35; Ryan, 2008; National Museum of Australia and Ryebuck Media,
2011)
6
Two Sources from the timeThe next slide included two sources
from 1804. One is a series of three diary entries by a local
settler in Hobart- Reverend Knopwood. The other is a report by Lt
Moore, 7th May 1804 to Governor Collins.
Once the next slide appears pause the presentation to read
through the sources.
8
Reflective QuestionsNow I would like you to pause the
presentation again to think about and discuss (if someone is in
close proximity) the following questions.In the diary entries how
are the Aboriginal people presented? What tells you this?Are these
diary entries likely to be an honest account? Why or why not?Would
Lt Moore hold a motive for maybe distorting the truth in this
document? Why or why not?
(National Museum of Australia and Ryebuck Media, 2011)
What happened in 1904The centenary of the Risdon Cove settlement
was a celebration of the pioneer settlers in Tasmania. In
attendance was several thousand spectators, the premier and the
governor of Tasmania who unveiled a monument to John Bowen, the
founder of Risdon Cove and paid tribute to the pioneers who had
worked hard to make Tasmania a successful colony.There was no
mention of the massacre and no Aboriginal people were known to have
been present. (Ryan, 2012, pp. 117)
http://images2.aystatic.com/places/90263/66627_home_hero.jpg?1378795772
image 10
IN 1995(Allen, 1992; Ryan, 2012)
2004- A POSITIVE SHIFT On 3 May 2004 about 200 members of the
Aboriginal community, their friends and politicians gathered on a
hill top overlooking Risdon Cove. Their purpose was to commemorate
the bicentenary of the massacre. No formal ceremony was held to
mark the Bowen landing and at the ceremony on 3 May 2004 his
monument was covered with a white sheet splattered with blood, as a
mark of respect for the Aboriginal people who lost their life in
the massacre
(Ryan, 2012 ; Darby, 2004)
Image: Dancers at a commemoration of the Risdon Cove
massacre.Picture:Peter Mathew 12
However the history isnt so clear surrounding the Risdon Cove
massacre
13
Implications for historyPlay video-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c3VOev-Z3o I decided to include
this as it depicts the different views of the massacre which
provides a certain implication for history and teaching Australian
History. Play
video-http://shelf3d.com/vU_4OO6ODmk#Risdon%20Cove%20Archaeology%20-%20"Evidence%20Of%20A%20Massacre?
Take a minute now to think about what was shown in this video
(pause the presentation). What do the two contrasting views tell
us? What can we determine from the media? Is this considered as an
implication for history? Why or why not? Keith Windschuttle (Ryan,
2012, p.p 122)
14
As Ryan (2012) explains:
Can Risdon Cove be represented as a site of reconciliation and
renewal as well as of violent dispossession?
I ask my peers to now take time, maybe 1-2 minutes (pause the
presentation) to think about this question. There is no right or
wrong answer the importance lies within the thought process.
Teaching activity- Grade 5 I would modify the contents of this
power point and display the main points in a web quest format. It
involves an introduction where the students are provided with some
information of the Risdon Cove massacre, inquiry questions, a task,
process, evaluation and a conclusion (Stickland & Nazzal,
2005). The task within the web quest would be a final oral
presentation to the class. Including a recording of the discussions
surrounding the questions asked, an option to write a diary entry
or letter from the perspective of an Aboriginal in 1804 as their
voices were silenced during that time and an analysis of the
credibility of the information provided in selected books and
websites.
16
Curriculum linksHistory- Knowledge and Understanding Reasons
(economic, political and social) for the establishment of British
colonies in Australia after 1800. (ACHHK093)The impact of a
significant development or event on a colony; for example, frontier
conflict, the gold rushes, the Eureka Stockade, internal
exploration, the advent of rail, the expansion of farming, drought.
(ACHHK095)Historical Skills Identify and locate a range of relevant
sources (ACHHS101)Compare information from a range of sources
(ACHHS103)Use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic,
written) and digital technologies (ACHHS106)Cross- Curricula
Priorities- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and
CulturesAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have lived in
Australia for tens of thousands of years and experiences can be
viewed through historical, social and political lenses.Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander communities maintain a special
connection to and responsibility for Country/Place throughout all
of Australia.General Capabilities- ICTDefine and plan information
searchesSelect and evaluate data and information(Australian
Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA], 2014)
Final note.Why is it important to recognise our past?What
contributions will we have to the future by doing so?Play video of
Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder Jim Everett (2011)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYwlTUjNEkc You dont have to be
Aboriginal you just need to understand the Aboriginal connection
and want to learn.
References Allen, K. (1992). Aboriginal community reoccupies
Risdon Cove. Retrieved from
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/3815Australian Curriculum,
Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA]. (2014). The Australian
Curriculum: Cross Curriculum Priorities. Retrieved August 2014,
from:
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/CrossCurriculumPriorities
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA].
(2014). The Australian Curriculum: History. Retrieved May 2014,
from:
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/humanitiesandsocialsciences/history/Curriculum/F-10
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA].
(2014). The Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities. Retrieved
May 2014, from:
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/GeneralCapabilities/Overview/general-capabilities-in-the-australian-curriculum
Connor, J. (2002). The Australian Frontier Wars 1788-1838 (1st
ed.). Sydney, NSW: UNSW Press. Darby, A. (2004). Debate exposes
200-year-old massacre. The Age. Retrieved from
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/03/1083436539543.html?from=storyrhsElder,
B. (1988). Blood on the Wattle, Massacres and Maltreatment of
Australian Aborigines since 1788,, Sydney: Child & Associates.
Everett, J. (2011, Aug 06). Island Home Country, from "Reckoning"
chapter. Retrieved Aug 2014, from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYwlTUjNEkc National Museum of
Australia and Ryebuck Media,. (2011). Massacre at Risdon Cove? An
Australian History Mystery. Retrieved from
http://www.australianhistorymysteries.info/pdfs/StudiesAHM-1.pdf
Riawunna Centre. (2014). Welcome ceremony protocols. Retrieved
July 2014, from Riawunna Centre, University of Tasmania:
http://www.utas.edu.au/riawunna/welcome-ceremony-protocols
Ryan, L. (2008). List of multiple killings of Aborigines in
Tasmania: 1804-1835 - Online Encyclopedia of Mass Violence.
Retrieved 13 August 2014, from
http://www.massviolence.org/List-of-multiple-killings-of-Aborigines-in-Tasmania-1804#citation
Ryan, L. (2012). Tasmanian aborigines (1st ed., pp. 107-123).
Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin.
Seymour, S. (2013). Risdon Cove Massacre of History. Retrieved
Aug 17 2014 from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c3VOev-Z3o
Strickland, J., & Nazzal, A. (2005).Using web quests to
teach content: Comparing instructional strategies.Contemporary
Issues in Technology and Teacher Education. Retrieved
from:http://www.citejournal.org/vol5/iss2/socialstudies/article1.cfm
