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Footprints tells the story of Lucy and Percy Pepper and their children, an Aboriginal family from Gippsland in early twentieth century Victoria, as told by their descendants, family photographs and through official documents of the Victorian government.

This video examines the themes of human rights for Aboriginal Victorians in the early twentieth century through the lives of Lucy and Percy Pepper and their descendants.

It explores:

  • the laws that governed the lives of Aboriginal people at this time
  • the way human rights have been ignored, demanded or achieved in Australia after World War I
  • the struggles of Aboriginal peoples for the rights and freedoms other Australians took for granted
  • the nature and history of human rights in Australia
  • past and present policies of government in relation to Aboriginal people
  • the policies impacting on people considered to be “half castes”.

Click here for teacher resources for 'Survival in their own land'.

 

Material in the Public Record Office Victoria archival collection contains words and descriptions that reflect attitudes and government policies at different times which may be insensitive and upsetting

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples should be aware the collection and website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

PROV provides advice to researchers wishing to access, publish or re-use records about Aboriginal Peoples