First Australians
Overview
First Australians is a groundbreaking historical documentary series that aired in October 2008, produced by Blackfella Films over six years. It presents the narrative of contemporary Australia through the lens of its Indigenous peoples, utilizing extensive archival material and insights from historians and community leaders. Spanning seven episodes, the series begins with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 and concludes with Koiki Mabo's landmark legal challenge in 1993. By focusing on personal stories, it candidly examines the complex and often violent encounters between Aboriginal Australians and British settlers, addressing the previously overlooked aspects of Indigenous Australian history.
Episodes
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1
Awakenings, 1954-1956
A series of brave actions galvanize African Americans in the South to stand up for their rights. Mose Wright boldly speaks out in court against the wh...
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1
They have come to stay
Title: A New Beginning Plot: On January 26, 1788, the first Australians encounter the British Empire, one of history’s greatest powers, in Sydney. ...
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2
Her will to survive
The land acquisition shifts focus to Tasmania, where the government aims to maintain property values by forcibly displacing the Tasmanian Aboriginal c...
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2
Fighting Back, 1957-1962
In 1957, the conflict between advocates of states' rights and federal officials intensifies during the integration of Central High School in Little Ro...
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3
Freedom for our lifetime
In Victoria, the first Australians face the looming danger of extinction as Simon Wonga, the leader of the Wurundjeri clan, attempts to secure land fr...
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3
Ain't Scared of Your Jails, 1960-1961
In the heart of the South, Black college students emerge as pivotal figures in the civil rights movement, leading lunch counter sit-ins to challenge ...
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4
No Other Law
Throughout the era of white settlement, various individuals, both virtuous and nefarious, have greatly influenced the lives of the first Australians. ...
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4
No Easy Walk, 1962-1966
During the civil rights movement, mass demonstrations prove to be a potent force, with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. rising as its prominent figure. W...
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5
Unhealthy government experiment
In the 1870s, Jandamurra is born on a cattle station in the Kimberley, but his life shifts dramatically when he chooses to abandon his role as a polic...
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5
Mississippi, Is This America, 1962-1964
The grassroots civil rights movement in Mississippi captures national attention as college students journey south to assist in registering black vote...
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6
A fair deal for a dark race
Throughout the continent, the original Australians are subjected to 'protective legislation' that confines them to reserves while regulating their wag...
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6
Bridge to Freedom, 1965
The intense and pivotal march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, encapsulates a decade’s worth of struggle and determination. Amidst the violence a...
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7
Finale: We are no longer shadows
Eddie Koiki Mabo advocates for the recognition of his people's ownership of Murray Island, a place they have inhabited for generations. In 1992, just ...
