Becoming a Settler Descendant: Critical Engagements with Inherited Family Narratives of Indigeneity, Agriculture and Land in a (Post)Colonial Context

Using personal reflections from my experiences as a descendant of settlers, I undertake an autoethnographic interpretation how inherited family history agriculture and memory structures relationship to land. Agricultural identities have been foundational the formation Australian nation in metamorphosis settlers into settler descendants. Memories formed by their descendants stories become consubstantive force determination relationships At same time, recognise dispossessory overtures these sentiments continue erasure autochthonous Indigenous belonging colonial state. Thus, work critically engages with approach issues identity historical past might stifle or conversely open up critical engagement ethical responsibility peoples political present. This analysis reflects on broader society’s proclivity toward agricultural identities, borne out recent debates surrounding author Bruce Pascoe's book. Dark Emu [Pascoe, Bruce. 2014. Emu. Broome: Magabala Books monograph], which positions people Australia’s first agriculturalists. These trends follow scholarship that seeks expose normative racist beliefs about others through attentiveness troubled history.