Aborgines

John Howard, in 1996, during his Sir Robert Menzies Lecture claimed, 'The Black- Armband view of our past reflects a belief that most Australian history since 1788 has been little more than a disgraceful story of imperialism, exploitation, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination'. (Howard, 1996, Sir Robert Menzies Lecture) I find this an adequate description of the implied reader of Gary Crew's No Such Country. Inspired by the Black-Armband view, Crew has written a novel that challenges dominant conceptions of Australian history by confronting the generally optimistic view known as the Three Cheers view. The implied reader is positioned as indigenous and female. The white, Australian male is positioned by the text as an outsider, who is pleased to go along with the patriarchal structures. The European males in the novel, particularly the Father and Angel, are symbolised as the white imperialists, who came and took the land, raping the country. Crew's novel clearly positions the implied reader to believing that white males should not have any part in the future of Australia and represents women and indigenous people as the morally pure, innocent, just, peaceful and natural human beings.

Crew, in an attempt to resist dominant conceptions of Australian identity privileges the indigenous feminist culture through the characters of Sam, Rachael and Sarah. Sam Shadows symbolises the current generation of Indigenous Australians, who are seeking reconciliation and recognition. Sam is a Jesus figure whose 'second coming' to New Canaan brings judgement on the people. For those who turn from the sins of their past are forgiven and those who refuse to acknowledge him die a fiery death in their sin. Rachael and Sarah both represent women who are suppressed in patriarchal society. Their motive is to discover the truth and seek reconciliation with the indigenous people. It is obvious to see that the white men of New Canaan