The Truth Will Set You Free? The Promises and Pitfalls of Truth‐Telling for Indigenous Emancipation

First Nations in Australia are beginning to grapple with processes of treaty‐making state governments and territories. As these gain momentum, truth‐telling has become a central tenet imagining Indigenous emancipation the possibility transforming relationships between settler peoples. Truth, it is suggested, will enable changed ways knowing what who “Australia” is. These dynamics assume that benefit all people, but truth be enough compel change provide an emancipated future for people? This article reports on Australian Victoria, draws two sets extant literature understand lessons outcomes international experience crucial insights processes—that commissions broadly, focusing specifically comparable colonial process, Canadian Truth Reconciliation Commission. The presents circumspect assessment possibilities might emerge through from our perspective as team non‐Indigenous critical scholars. We first consider normative approach sees potentially flawed worthwhile process imbued possibility, able contribute rethinking changing Indigenous–settler relations. then more views see rehabilitative obscuring ongoing injustices. Bringing this analysis into conversation contemporary debate Australia, we advocate simultaneous adoption both perspectives possible way forward understanding contradictions, opportunities, tensions implies.