This fascinating new addition to the Cultural Survival Studies in Ethnicity and Change series examines the ramifications of a possible treaty signing between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples of Australia before the end of the millennium in 2001.

Aboriginal Reconciliation and the Dreaming is divided into two parts. Part I traces the history of treaty negotiations in Australia, documenting the tremendous progress towards the recognition of indigenous land and sea rights since the historic victories in the Mabo and Wik High Court cases of 1992 and 1996, and the disastrous turnaround against the recognition of Aboriginal property rights in 1998. Part II examines reconciliation from the viewpoint of indigenous people — the Warramiri of Elcho Island in northeast Arnhem Land. It delves into complex questions such as how do Elcho Islanders, who had traded with and worked for visiting Indonesian fishermen for 200 years prior to the European occupation of Australia, view the present-day treaty or reconciliation debate?

The series is edited by David Maybury-Lewis and Theodore Macdonald, Jr., of Cultural Survival, Inc. The ethnographies focus on key issues affecting indigenous and ethnic groups worldwide, allowing students to explore a particular issue and its impact on a culture.