You must investigate Federation from the perspective of Aborigines living at that time and the effects Federation has had on Indigenous people and their rights. At the end of this section you will explain the significance of your role to the other members of your group.

Part One

Answer the following questions to explain the role that Aborigines played or didn't play in Federation. How could F-900 use the role that race played to his advantage?

1. What were some of the reasons given for excluding Aborigines from the voting process?
    
2. When was the law that allowed Aborigines to vote passed, and who were the major figures that got it passed?
    
3. How was the constitution changed so that it no longer discriminated against Aboriginal people?
    
4. Why do think it took so long for Aboriginal people to be granted democratic rights?

Write a short poem or short story about the Indigenous Peoples of Australia and how they were treated leading up to and after Federation!

Part Two

You are back at the time of Federation and have identified the ways in which the F-900 could sabotage history in your team's aspect.

Could you change history in your team's aspect for the better? How? The issues involving White Australia Policy, Aboriginal Land rights, Stolen Generations, Reconciliation need to be considered.

Would you do it if you had the chance?

Explain your reasons, ideas and attitudes in a short (500 words) essay.

Part Three

Write down as many questions (and their answers) as you can about this aspect of Federation - they will be used in the next Challenge! Each of you will need to come up with at least 5 questions - a total of at least 20 questions.

DO NOT share these questions with ANYONE (except your group) - you don't know who are the F-900s!

You are to write up the questions and 3 possible answers (one being the correct one). 

Resources

• Australian Electoral Commission: History of Indigenous Vote (PDF, 2.97 MB)
   
• Federation and Beyond: Building a Plural Australia
   
• The Origin of Commonwealth Involvement in Indigenous Affairs and the 1967 Referendum
   
• 100 Years of Indigenous History
   
• Parliament and Indigenous Peoples
   
• Australia's Centenary of Federation: Aboriginal Australia: The Unfinished Business - Overview
   
• Parliament of South Australia: Aboriginal South Australians and Parliament
   
• Health Sociology Review: Aboriginal society and health: critical issues demand what from sociologists? See History sections: Pre-referendum: Australian federation and settler colonialism
   
• Australian Museum Online: Indigenous Australia: Timeline: Contact History 1500 - 1900