Covering a wide range of issues, this book examines the experiences and perceptions of indigenous peoples in the context of the national states and political systems that have been externally imposed and implemented upon them. Fascinating and incisive, the text discusses a range of areas such as: * indigenous territories* concepts of political autonomy and sovereignty that have been used to describe and constitute indigenous political projects* Western notions of education in relation to indigenous societies' educational practice* the broad Western historical understanding of the relationship with indigenous societies and the adequacy of the legal notion of 'belief' to depict Aboriginal religiosity. Contributors to this volume include anthropologists, jurists, educators, indigenous activists, scholars and sociologists.