Walking in the Sunlight, Walking in the Shadow

1971, 48 Minutes

Made shortly after the 1967 Referendum, this program begins by identifying a stereotype of Aboriginal people as “no-hopers and bums”. Northern Territorians speak of a growing awareness of the problems facing Indigenous Australians but claim there is widespread ignorance of the complexity of the issues outside the territory. Non-indigenous educators at schools, on missions and in communities such as Yuendumu and Maningrida, discuss their approaches to the education and ‘social integration’ of Aboriginal people, particularly children; some of the challenges they face, such as the traditional Aboriginal practice of promised marriage; their aims and their ideas for the future.

Produced by the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit for the Department of the Interior.
© National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.