The Foundation 1963–1977 (2002)
Length: 25 minutes
Synopsis
A documentary that intercuts interviews with historical footage to tell the history of The Foundation of Aboriginal Affairs, an organisation significant in the push for the 1967 referendum in which Aboriginal peoples were given the vote.
Curator’s notes
The Foundation is an interesting account of the development of an Indigenous political resistance that eventually lead to Indigenous representation within government policy as well as in the social consciousness. The Foundation essentially documents the centralisation of an organised resistance and the self-determination that allowed Indigenous peoples to harness resources to provide services to Indigenous peoples in need of assistance.
The Foundation illustrates the passion of a generation who moved to provide a support network for fellow Indigenous peoples in an era before governmental assistance. An effective support structure was established that promoted Indigenous individuals within society while not losing the sense of community, and Indigenous peoples moving to the city could feel supported politically, culturally and socially.
| Production company | Chili Films |
|---|---|
| Producer | Penny McDonald |
| Associate producer | Melissa Abraham |
| Executive producer | Cathy Etcock |
| Director | Troy J Russell |
| Written by | Troy J Russell |
| Melissa Abraham | |
| Cast | Esther Carroll |
| Roy Carroll | |
| Joyce Clague | |
| Chicka Dixon | |
| Gary Foley | |
| Eileen Perkins |
Acknowledgements
Produced with the assistance of the Indigenous Branch of the Australian Film Commission.
Historical footage sourced from:
- ABC Television – Migrants In Their Own Land, Debutantes Ball, Referendum, Tent Embassy, Five Australians: Charles Perkins, Fair Go: Winning the 1967 Referendum, Aborigines in Sydney.
- Film Australia – One Man’s Road: Australian Profile.
- Lilias Fraser – This is Their Land.
- Allessandro Cavadini & Carolyn Strachan – Ningla a-Na.
have teacher’s notes.
