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William Cooper (1860 – 1941) was an Australian Aboriginal political activist and community leader. ==Early life== William Cooper was born in Yorta Yorta territory around the intersection of the Murray and Goulburn Rivers in Victoria, Australia on 18 December 1860.〔In a letter to Mrs W A Norman in August 1940, Cooper wrote, "I will be 80 years of age on 18th December" - see Document 98 in Attwood and Markus. He died in 1941. On his death certificate, Cooper's date of birth is recorded as 18 December 1861. It is up to the historians to decide which is more accurate, Cooper himself or the author of the death certificate.〕 Cooper appears to have been forced to work for a variety of pastoral employers, even as a child. On 4 August 1874, William Cooper, along with his mother, Kitty, his brother Bobby and other relatives arrived at Maloga, an Aboriginal Mission on the Murray, run by Daniel and Janet Matthews. Three days later, Matthews was struck by William’s quick progress in literacy, and noted the following in his diary: "6 Aug. Maloga. The boy, Billy Cooper, shows great aptitude for learning. He has acquired a knowledge of the Alphabet, capital and small letters, in three days and then taught Bobby – capitals only – in one day." 〔Cato, p. 51.〕 Cooper came and went from the mission freely, learning and working as it suited. In his 20s, he seems to have taken a great interest in the message of the Bible. Following a church service in January, 1884, Cooper approached Daniel Matthews and said "I must give my heart to God…." He was the last of his brothers and sisters to become a Christian.〔Cato, Nancy (1976) "Mister Maloga, Daniel Matthews and his Mission, Murray River, 1864-1902" St Lucia, Qld: University of Queensland Press P167〕 The faith community seems to have nourished Cooper for a life of activism. "Matthews' evangelical work provided Cooper and other Yorta Yorta with powerful way of understanding and protesting against their plight, and so helped equip them to fight for equality."〔"Introduction" in Attwood and Markus.〕 From 1881, Cooper was educated by Thomas Shadrach James, a highly educated Tamil from Mauritius, who had moved to Maloga to become the resident teacher.〔See: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/james-thomas-shadrach-10610〕 Cooper read widely, learning of the indigenous rights movements in North America and New Zealand. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「William Cooper (Aboriginal Australian)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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