The Hindmarsh Island Bridge: And the Credibility of Australian Anthropology

Applied Forum: The Hindmarsh Island Affair: A Review Article

“…Their work came under close scrutiny, and the profession's standing and objectivity were assailed by an array of critics (see Tonkinson 1997), one of the most trenchant of whom is himself an anthropologist (cf. Brunton 1995Brunton , 1996aBrunton , 1996b. This transpired at a time when anthropology's vital role in Aboriginal land claim and native title research and contestation had already made it a target for powerful conservative forces antithetical to elements of legislative regimes concerning Indigenous heritage and land rights (see Peace 2003).…”

“…Some critics were keen to hoist anthropologists on their own petard of codes of professional ethics that allegedly place responsibility to the people with whom they conduct research above all else-the (false) inference here being that anthropologists cannot therefore be balanced and objective in their assessments. In Simons's view, anthropologists on both sides of the affair were guilty of errors of judgment, and there was plenty of fuel for the fire of critics of all persuasions, including members of the profession, whose assessments diverged widely; see, for example, the exchange in Anthropology Today between Brunton (1996b) and Weiner (1997).…”

The importance of process in social impact assessment: Ethics, methods and process for cross-cultural engagement

“…See, for example, Brunton (1996), Langton (1996), Fergie (1996), Gelder & Jacobs (1997), Weiner (1997), Bell (1998) and Simons (2003). Transcripts of the South Australian Royal Commission are available online at http://www.library.adelaide.edu.au/gen/H_Islnd/ and papers from a conference on the legal case, which found in favour of the Aboriginal women who refused to testify to the Royal Commission, can be obtained online at http://www.aas.asn.au/hindmarsh.htm…”

Law's Anthropology : From ethnography to expert testimony in native title

“…Arguably, the most successful contemporary strategy has been anthropology's repositioning as curator, decipherer, historian and commentator on contemporary Indigenous 16 See, for example, the various papers from a panel on 'Elitism and Discrimination within Anthropology' held at the 1993 Society for Applied Anthropology (Baer 1995;Cassell 1995;Harrison 1995;Johnston 1995;Nader 1995;Paredes 1995;Singer 1995;Smith 1995;Tashima and Crain 1995). 17 See Bell (1998); Brunton (1996); Clarke (1996); Fergie (1996); Hemming (1996Hemming ( , 1997; Kenny (1996); Lucas (1996); Simons (2003); Tonkinson (1997); Weiner (1995Weiner ( , 1999Weiner ( , 2001Weiner ( , 2002. Later accounts by some of the key Aboriginal participants indicate that there was probably a diversity of honestly held Aboriginal views about the disputed area, rather than a simple fabrication by one group (see Rowse 2006). art, particularly the internationally recognised Western Desert art movement.…”

“…25 'If Sutton cannot project independence in a Federal Court hearing', it was lamented, 'who can?' His very resistance to the 21 See Bannister (2006);Brunton (1996);Mead (1995); Simons (2003);and South Australia Hindmarsh Island Bridge Royal Commission (1995). Later accounts by some of the key Aboriginal participants indicate that there was probably a diversity of honestly held Aboriginal views about the disputed area, rather than a simple fabrication by one group (see Rowse 2006 322-5.…”