''First Australians'' is an Australian historical Documentary film, documentary series produced by Blackfella Films over the course of six years, and first aired on SBS (Australian TV channel), SBS TV in October 2008. The documentary is part of a greater project that further consists of a book, a community outreach program and a substantial website featuring over 200 mini-documentaries.

Description

The series chronicles the History of Australia, history of contemporary Australia, from the perspective of its first people, Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander people. The series is essentially a synthesis of well-documented historical information. It relies heavily on archival documents and interpretations from historians and members of both the Aboriginal and European Australian, European community and leaders. The story begins in 1788 in Sydney, with the arrival of the First Fleet and ends in 1993 with Koiki Mabo's Mabo v Queensland (No 2), legal challenge to the foundation of Australia. The series comprises seven episodes in which it explores what unfolded when the oldest living culture in the world was confronted by the British Empire.Unearthing our first voices
''The Canberra Times'', 14 October 2008 It explores the lives of particular individuals and uses their stories as a vehicle to explain the larger situations of the time. It explains violent aspects of European settlement of Australia, such as killings, battles, wars, as well as acts of friendship and decency between the early European settlers and Aboriginal Australians. Aboriginal Australian history has until recently been clouded by the "great Australian silence", referring to ignorance of the real history of Australia seen as a way for non-Aboriginal Australians to hide shame for their own history. The series was the winner of multiple awards, remains the highest-selling educational title in Australia , and was also sold overseas.

Episodes

A total of seven episodes were filmed. The series was first transmitted in Australia from 12 October to 2 November 2008.

Production

The series was made by Film Australia and the Film Finance Corporation Australia, Film Finance Corporation in conjunction with Special Broadcasting Service, SBS Independent and the New South Wales Film and Television Office. It was written, produced and directed by Rachel Perkins, daughter of outspoken Aboriginal activist Charles N. Perkins, Charles Perkins, with episode writing and directing credits including Beck Cole and Louis Nowra. The series was produced by Darren Dale. The series featured writer Bruce Pascoe and historians Marcia Langton and Janet McCalman.

Community consultation

A significant part of the production of the series involved consultation with the descendants of the individuals portrayed in the documentary. According to the First Australians Documentary website, this involved; checking the content of scripts, usually face to face, seeking permission to film in particular locations, showing the rough cut of the film for comment and showing the film at fine cut. The series was made in accordance with Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights, to ensure the cultural content and the rights of Indigenous people.

Awards and nominations

*2009: AACTA Awards, AFI Award: Best Documentary Series for Darren Dale, Rachel Perkins, Helen Panckhurst - Won *2009: Logie Award: Outstanding Documentary or Documentary Series - Won *2009: New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Script Writing Award for Louis Nowra, Rachel Perkins & Beck Cole - Won *2009: Australian Directors' Guild Awards: Outstanding Direction for a Television Documentary - Series - (Freedom for Our Lifetime) for Rachel Perkins - Won *2009: Australian Writers' Guild Award: Outstanding Writing in a Documentary (Episode 1) for Louis Nowra, Rachel Perkins - Won *2009: Australian Writers' Guild Award: Outstanding Writing in a Documentary (Episode 3) for Louis Nowra, Beck Cole - Nominated *2009: Deadly Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Film - Rachel Perkins - Nominated

References

External links

*
''First Australians'' website on SBS
on the Minister for Indigenous Affairs website {{Films and television series about Aboriginal Australia 2000s Australian documentary television series Special Broadcasting Service original programming Television shows set in New South Wales Documentary films about Aboriginal Australians 2008 Australian television series debuts Indigenous Australian television series