Spanning the late 18th century to the present, this volume explores new directions in imperial and postcolonial histories of conciliation, performance, and conflict between European colonizers and Indigenous peoples in Australia and the Pacific Rim, including Aotearoa New Zealand, Hawaii and the Northwest Pacific Coast. It examines cultural "rituals" and objects; the re-enactments of various events and encounters of exchange, conciliation and diplomacy that occurred on colonial frontiers between non-Indigenous and Indigenous peoples; commemorations of historic events; and how the histories of colonial conflict and conciliation are politicized in nation-building and national identities.

"This book is noteworthy because its essays draw to our attention 'conciliation' as an historical theme and component of the imperial encounter. It is to be hoped that imperial historians--and not just those interested in the Pacific Rim--will both read the book and absorb its lessons." - Richard N. Price, H-Net Review, University of Maryland

Kate Darian-Smith holds concurrent appointments as Professor of Australian Studies and History, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, Faculty of Arts, and Professor of Cultural Heritage, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne. Penelope Edmonds is Australian Research Council Future Fellow and Associate Professor, School of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Tasmania.