First Australians
| First Australians | |
|---|---|
First Australians Intro title
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| Genre | Historical documentary |
| Created by | Rachel Perkins |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| No. of episodes | 7 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Darren Dale |
| Producer(s) | Rachel Perkins |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Blackfella Films |
| Release | |
| Original network | SBS |
| Picture format | 16:9 |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| First shown in | Australia |
| Original release | 12 October – 2 November 2008 |
| External links | |
| Website | www |
| Production website |
www |
First Australians is an Australian historical documentary series produced by Blackfella Films over the course of six years, and first aired in October 2008. The documentary is part of a greater project that further consists of a hard-cover book, a community outreach program and a substantial website featuring over 200 mini-documentaries.
The series chronicles the history of contemporary Australia, from the perspective of its first people, Aboriginal Australians. The series is essentially a synthesis of well documented historical information. It relies heavily on archival documents and interpretations from historians and members of both the Aboriginal and European community and leaders. The story begins in 1788 in Sydney, with the arrival of the First Fleet and ends in 1993 with Koiki Mabo's legal challenge to the foundation of Australia.
The series comprises seven episodes in which it explores what unfolded when the oldest living culture in the world was confronted by the British Empire. It explores the lives of particular individuals and uses their stories as a vehicle to explain the larger situations of the time. It explains violent aspects of European settlement of Australia, such as killings, battles, wars, as well as acts of friendship and decency between the early European settlers and Aboriginal Australians. Aboriginal Australian history has until recently been clouded by the "great Australian silence" where ignorance of the real history of Australia can be seen as a way for non-Aboriginal Australians to hide shame for their own history. In this respect it has been controversial in that many of these stories have not been portrayed on Australian television before and the Aboriginal Australian perspective of European settlement is confrontational for many.
The series was first transmitted in Australia from 12 October to 2 November 2008. A total of seven episodes were filmed, no further episodes have been announced.
The series was made by Film Australia and the Film Finance Corporation in conjunction with SBS Independent and the New South Wales Film and Television Office. It was written, produced and directed by Rachel Perkins, daughter of outspoken Aboriginal activist Charles Perkins.
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