With all due respects to Mr. Hagen - and I have no doubt that I will be severely corrected and chastized for any error, I was always under the impression that Aboriginal land was never "owned" per se, but merely held in trust for the next generation?

Of course it was only when the English decided to make my country a somewhat large prison for their unwanted rejects that land in the country (now called Australia) became something to be bought and sold - and now even the rain that falls almost belongs to some multinational corporation.

I am no scholar. but in my very poor reading and understand of Australia, Australian Aboriginal peoples also "invaded" this country during the dream times and that there were people here already, who were fought, killed and overcome.

Even from current history, one only has to browse through the massive errors where religious "do gooders" and state placed warring tribes together and expected them to be peaceful, then punish offenders - and wonder why they rebel?

I ramble, but having said that, how can one really define what is now claimed as "My Land?"

Kekenidika... that post of yours was rich beyond measure..
you said you were 'rambling'...but you came forth with pearls of wisdom which might otherwise have taken a long time to unravel.

Well done ! :)

I think your point about those who were previously dispossessed (from the dream time stories) is the ABSOLUTE point which we all (Indigenous and White) need to grapple with, as they say the 'nettle' which can sting, but a good grip will reduce the pain....

I've long said to whoever will listen, especially Indigenous Aussies, as follows:

IF NOT BRITS, THEN OTHERS.
If it was not the Brits, it would have been the Portugese, or the French or the Germans or (God forbid) the Japanese slicing and dicing any inigenous person who stood in their way (as they did to my wifes people in Borneo !) Does anyone seriously think we would be talking about 'native title' here today if it was the Japanese ?

Pretty much every British background white Australian here is genetically made up of a mixture of the following:

Celt
Angle
Saxon
Vicking
French
Scottish
Irish

Each of these groups represents dispossession, invasion, and wars.

INEVITABLE.
So, the fact of Indigenous disspossesion by more powerful people is not something new, nor was it in any way avoidable as the flow of history progressed.

ASSIMILATION is the reality which occurred to all the above races, so today, you cannot tell the racial background of a white Englishman.
Its harder with extreme color difference.

2 CHOICES are available. Seek to assimilate, or differentiate racially, there is no room for 'racial' pride in Australia in my opinion, only 'human' pride.
If the choice is 'differentiate' then the obvious consequence must be faced. Possible racial tension "Them/Us" as populations increase.

That said, I still think there are ways of accomodating the Indigenous concept of 'land stewarship' with the European idea of 'ownership'.
While Stephen may say 'everyone knew who's land was who's' I've had enough to do with Indigneous tribes myself to know it ain't that simple :)

Boaz David,

There is no scientific evidence to support your declaration that

• Celt
• Angle
• Saxon
• Vicking
• French
• Scottish
• Irish

are genetically discreet human types or species. But you contend (in other posts) that you are an anthropologist? or was it a tour guide operator for exotic locations and people ? I forget. Anyways See: http://www.pbs.org/race/000_General/000_00-Home.htm

BTW: I may or may not respond to your other post. I’m quite willing to share knowledge and engage in informed discussion - but I don’t have the time to give online tutorials on the basics. C'mon, do some background research and then we can get down and discuss.

Hi Steve, Connection reports were introduced some years back and it became clear to me and others that these were tailor made for anthropologists willing to cut corners and comply with the administrative imperatives and interpretations of the NNTT.

Uncle Jim's word is good enough for me and my mob. No need for anthropological meddlings. This cartoon by Larson sez it all: http://www.uwm.edu/People/wash/larson.jpg

Stephen, very informative.

This is the 'history' ALL Australians need to be taught. These are the stories that need to be spoken.

Though why these conferences have to be held in that type of setting still amazes me.
I am thinking of all that water used to keep the grass green for a small group of people to wander around chasing a little white ball.

Rainier

We're lucky you aren't a religious fanatic! Wouldn't OLO burn!

Anthropologists, I mean't. Oops