Episode 1 is available to watch for free on the SBS website at http://www.sbs.com.au/firstaustralians/

I thought it was a great documentary too. Not least because of the discussions that it's triggered with other people who saw it.

My reaction in terms of an overall lesson was that two things really came out:

1. The real wedges driven between the 1st and 2nd peoples' cultures were due to angry or fearful emotional reactions, resulting in strategic mistakes.

E.g. The reaction of Gov Philip to the killing of his murderous gamesman was a grave mistake. Likewise the reaction of the Waradjuri leader Windradyne to the killing of his family was also a grave tactical error.

2. When reacting, the British response tended to be far more aggressive, often featuring indiscriminate brutality. The Indigenous response tended to be more humane, targeting for the most part perpetrators and property.


These two lessons are notable for their resonance with more recent events in international affairs. The attack on the twin towers, for example, might be seen in some ways as parallel to the killing of the gamesman. What was the USA's response? Escalation. What did that achieve? Nothing but more bloodshed and hatred.


Another thing that the documentary drew my attention to was the anger of the indigenous leaders and academics who were interviewed. They displayed their anger by taking strongly cynical views of British motives, sometimes even flying in the face of what evidence is available (e.g. the "germ warfare" hypothesis).

It was interesting to see this anger in the context of the story being told. I think it is clear why Indigenous people feel so angry about their lands being taken from them, and their culture destroyed. But I was moved to ask: what does that anger achieve? Does it make the audience feel sympathetic or antipathetic?

Like Renee, I hope that there are some more positive message that come through this series in the end.

There were a couple of references from one academic who did not identify as indigenous, saying things like, "This is the longest continuous culture in the history of the world, and we are kidding ourselves if we think there's nothing we can learn from it."

Yes, I agree! And surely this series is a great oppourtunity to give us some beneficial and positive information.