Petitioning for Land

<i>Petitioning for Land</i>is the first book to examine the extent of First Peoples political participation through the use of petitions. Interpreting petitions as a continuous form of political articulation Karen O'Brien considers petitioning for recognition of prior land ownership as a means by which to locate First Peoples petitioning for change within the broader narrative of historical and contemporary notions of justice. <br/><br/>The book follows the story of First Peoples' activism and shows how they actively reform discourse to disseminate a self-determined reality through the act of petitioning. It discloses how through the petition First Peoples reject colonialism even whilst working within its confines. In a reconfiguration of discourse they actively convey a political or moral meaning to re-emerge in a self-determined world. Taking a socio-legal and historical approach to petitioning the book questions the state domination of First Peoples and charts their political action against such control in the quest for self-determination. <br/><br/>By uniquely focusing on the act of petitioning which places First Peoples aspirants centre-stage O'Brien presents fresh and innovative perspectives concerning their political enterprise. From early modern colonial occupation to contemporary society the hundreds of petitions that called for change are uncovered in <i>Petitioning for Land</i> shedding new light on the social and political dynamics that drove the petitions.