> I am in the process of developing a dissertation topic. An
> idea I have is an investigation of the role of doctors and scientists in
> the formulation of Federal Indian Policy. (If any one has read R.J.
> Lifton's _The Nazi Doctors_ they will have an idea of what I have in
> mind). I haven't come across anything in my preliminary research on the
> subject and don't know whether this is good or bad. Either I haven't
> looked long enough, nothing's been done yet, or there's nothing to be
> done on this topic because doctors and scientists weren't a part of the
> process. I guess another possibility is that doctors and scientists
> dissented from the process.
I am not handicapped by knowing anything about United States Indian policy
but my guess is that you may find such people on either side.
You may find comparative material from other settler states about the
removal of indigenous peoples from their lands and the role played by
social scientists in the over seas colonies of European states. Australia
was the venue for British rocket and nuclear tests in the 1950s and early
1960s. The western part of South Australia was used for both purposes and
the rocket range continued over Western Australia into the Indian Ocean.
This coincided with government contact with and the leaving or removal by
Aboriginal peoples from their territories to government and church mission
stations on the periphery of the area. Professor Elkin, professor of
anthropology at Sydney University and a government advisor perceived the
negative effects that these policies may have but appears to have
acquiesced as it was for the greater good of the king and the empire. A
medical doctor, moderator of the Presbyterian Church in South Australia and
founder of the mission at Ernabella Duguid strenously opposed these
developments as did some others, including one member of the Western
Australian parliament. The British atomic tests were the subject of a
Royal Commission - an administrative inquiry with judicial powers of
compulsion - some years ago which looked at the background and effect on
Aboriginal peoples.
Neil Andrews Tel: 61+6 201 2720
Law School Fax: 61+6 201 5198
University of Canberra
BELCONNEN ACT 2616 AUSTRALIA nja@management.canberra.edu.au
University of Canberra School of Law Home Page:
http://uniserve.edu.au/law/pub/edinst/canberra/staff/uoc_staff.html
"ACT LawNet" (Australian Capital Territory Attorney-General's Department
and University of Canberra Law data base):
http://actag.canberra.edu.au/actag/ag1.html.