Summary

Poster titled 'The Burnum Burnum Treaty Salzburg 27th January 1988'. In allusion to colonial treaties between settlers and Indigenous Australians, this poster offers tongue-in-cheek 'permission' for White Australians to retain Aboriginal territory with nine 'exceptions'. These exceptions include:1) All church and religious land 2) All government gazetted National Parks and Forests in Australia 3) All educational/school property 4) All World Heritage Wilderness Parks in Australia 5) All lands presently owned by Government Housing Departments where such housing is occupied by Aboriginal families 6) All existing Aboriginal territories private and government 7) All lands currently owned Independent Sovereign States in the Australian Capital Territory 8) All gaols and prison property in Australia 9) All privately owned multiple occupancy lands and communes(?) presently owned by European Australians. The poster was created by Woiworung/Yorta Yorta activist, storyteller and writer Burnum Burnum, also known as Harry Penrith. Burnum Burnum sought ways to effectively communicate Indigenous views to the Government and to challenge Eurocentric thinking. Burnum Burnum is particularly remembered for erecting the Aboriginal flag on English soil at Dover during the bicentenary celebrations and offering the British a negotiated peace.

Physical Description

Black ink on paper. Title: 'The Burnum Burnum Treaty'. Black print on white background; line border.

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