Displacing Indigenous Peoples Chapter Overview

Displacing Indigenous Peoples

• This chapter discusses the histories of native peoples in America and Australia, highlighting displacement.
• South America, Central America, North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand experienced immigration from Europe in the 18th century.
• This led to native populations being pushed out of their traditional lands.
• European settlements were called colonies; later, these became independent countries or states.
• Asian populations also migrated to these countries in the 19th and 20th centuries, leading to native populations becoming a minority.
• Many place names (e.g., Ohio, Mississippi) originated from native names.
• Till the mid-20th century, textbooks often downplayed the role of native peoples, portraying them as hostile to European settlers.
• In the 1960s, native peoples were encouraged to share their own histories (oral history).
• Museums now have galleries dedicated to native peoples, exhibiting their artwork and culture.
• The National Museum of the American Indian in the USA showcases the lives of Native Americans, curated by the Native Americans themselves.

European Imperialism

• Spain and Portugal's American empires did not significantly expand after the 17th century, unlike France, Holland, and England.
• Trading companies (e.g., the East India Company) took control of territories in South Asia and collected taxes from landowners.
• Europeans established railways, mines, and plantations to facilitate trade in Africa.
• Most European colonies adopted English as the official language, except Canada, where French was also used.
• European names were given to new countries (e.g., America).

North America

• The continent of North America extends from the Arctic Circle to the Tropic of Cancer.
• Native peoples inhabited North America for over 30,000 years.
• Before Europeans, diverse native communities lived in bands and villages, fishing, hunting, and farming.
• Many native communities used bison as a food source.
• Natives lived in harmony with the land and were skilled at utilizing local resources.

Encounters with Europeans

• Different terms were used to describe native Americans: aborigines, American Indians, or native Americans.
• The way Europeans saw the land was different from the view of native Americans.
• Native American tribes had oral histories, not written. They believed in cyclical time.
• Native Americans used crafts and wove textiles.
• Europeans were drawn to the land for resources (e.g., mineral), and they settled.
• The colonisation of North America involved the displacement of native communities.

This chapter explores the histories of Indigenous peoples in America and Australia, focusing on their displacement due to European colonization. It discusses the impact of immigration from Europe and Asia on native populations, along with the shift in narratives about their history. The chapter also highlights the importance of preserving Indigenous cultures and histories.