Back in 2019 when we first discussed Pascoe's work of fiction, the usual suspects were very convinced that it had completely overturned our understanding of aboriginal 'society'. Some quotes from the likes of Foxy, Paul_etc, and SR demonstrate their complete infatuation with the new understanding....

"...the first Australians had complex systems of agriculture that went beyond the hunter-gatherer tag."

"in fact the evidence is that at the time of European settlement, and there after, most tribes encountered by Europeans were settled people."

They defended their superior understanding and ridiculed those who didn't buy Pascoe's tales.

Then the Sutton et al book came out and those who just knew that aboriginal society wasn't a hunter-gather society suddenly decided that aboriginal society was obviously a hunter-gather society.

The central claim in Pascoe's fiction was that the aboriginals were settled farmers. Sutton completely demolished that piece of a-historic rubbish as even Foxy/Paul et al recognise.

So quite how Sutton supports Pascoe's claims is something that defies any notion of logic. Quite how Sutton accusing Pascoe of a “lack of true scholarship”, ignoring Aboriginal voices, dragging respect for traditional Aboriginal culture back into the Eurocentric world of the colonial era, and “trimming” colonial observations to fit his argument" means that Sutton is supportive of Pascoe demonstrates a lack of simple comprehension.

Quite how Sutton saying Dark Emu "it is “littered with unsourced material, is poorly researched, distorts and exaggerates many points, selectively emphasises evidence to suit those opinions, and ignores large bodies of information that do not support the author’s opinions” bolsters Pascoe's views is laughable.

Pascoe's views are rubbish. Sutton proved it although it only needed to be proven to the ignorant. Yet somehow the ignorant failed to learn the lesson.

Some people need to read the reviews and analysis
of experts on the subject of Indigenous heritage
and agriculture. It may become clearer -
what both Pascoe's books and Sutton and
Walshe's recent contribution have actually achieved.

Everything needs to be taken in its proper context.
Including the meaning of agriculture to our Indigenous
peoples.

cont'd ...

Bill Gammage's critique is worth a read:

http://www.insidestory.org.au/the-great-divide-pascoe-sutton/

This may be of interest.

I was critical of Sutton's book for a number of reasons but this piece fleshes it out further.

http://johnmenadue.com/misreading-dark-emu/

Dear Steele,

Thank You for the link.

It's very well argued and gives us much to
think about. As always you point us in the
right direction.