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There was movement at the station: western education at Moola Bulla, 1910-1955

Rhonda Povey (Centre for Advancement of Indigenous Knowledges (CAIK), Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia)
Michelle Trudgett (Centre for Advancement of Indigenous Knowledges (CAIK), Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia)

History of Education Review

ISSN: 0819-8691

Article publication date: 7 June 2019

Issue publication date: 10 June 2019

447

Abstract

Purpose

The focus of this paper is to centre the lived experiences and perceptions of western education held by Aboriginal people who lived at Moola Bulla Native Cattle Station (Moola Bulla) in Western Australia, between 1910 and 1955. Of interest is an investigation into how government legislations and policies influenced these experiences and perceptions. The purpose of this paper is to promote the powerful narrative that simultaneously acknowledges injustice and honours Aboriginal agency.

Design/methodology/approach

The research from which this paper is drawn moves away from colonial, paternalistic and racist interpretations of history; it is designed to decolonise the narrative of Aboriginal education in remote Western Australia. The research uses the wide and deep angle lens of qualitative historical research, filtered by decolonising methodologies and standpoint theory. Simultaneously, the paper valorises the contributions Indigenous academics are making to the decolonisation of historical research.

Findings

Preliminary findings suggest the narrative told by the residents who were educated at Moola Bulla support a reframing of previous deficit misrepresentations of indigeneity into strength-based narratives. These narratives, or “counter stories”, articulate resistance to colonial master narratives.

Social implications

This paper argues that listening to Aboriginal lived experiences and perceptions of western education from the past will better inform our engagement with the delivery of equitable educational opportunities for Aboriginal students in remote contexts in the future.

Originality/value

This paper will contribute to the wider academic community by addressing accountability in Aboriginal education. Most important to the study is the honouring of the participants and families of those who once lived on Moola Bulla, many who are speaking back through the telling of their story.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Cultural warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island readers should be aware that the paper may contain the names and words of people now deceased.

The authors acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation people who are the traditional custodians of the land on which the University of Technology Sydney is based and pay their respects to Elders past and present. The authors also acknowledge and pay respects to the Kija people on whose land this paper is based, and to the Jaru, Gooniyandi, Kukatja, Bunuba and Walmajarri people who resided at Moola Bulla between 1910 and 1955.

Citation

Povey, R. and Trudgett, M. (2019), "There was movement at the station: western education at Moola Bulla, 1910-1955", History of Education Review, Vol. 48 No. 1, pp. 75-90. https://doi.org/10.1108/HER-10-2018-0024

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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