I should note that the title of this article has been changed by me slightly. Leah didn't suggest that Aborigines should have the greatest say, just a significant say so I modified that part of the heading.

I think the argument over what affect aborigines had on the environment is a bit of a false one. Every animal affects its environment, human beings included. Aboriginal ways of life certainly shaped what we see, and left a softer foot print than our own, and they still live in the sorts of areas that are likely to be heritage listed.

To me that suggests that they should have a significant say, and have significant expertise, unless your aim in listing is to ultimately produce a landscape that hasn't existed since before the last glaciation.

has anyone been to outback communities and seen the enormous amount of rubbish lying around? Have they seen how skinny the dogs are? Please!

its funny how grayman says that the title changed him
i feel the title very dramatic..longest mean strongest
get real

lets get other things straight..like we got old folk/elders
but they are only advisers..they arnt chiefs..[we dont got chiefs..that rule has gone on the longest

the 2de longest rule is..concensus..till we all agree nuthing happens

3 rd longest rules..is dont pee in water we need to drink[then along comes civilisation..and yells at a child for NOT defuckating..into water

this absurdity..must be clear..but we had more law
we had law that my totum is my duty to protect/give sanctury to
so my totum feeds you..as your totum feeds me

we never ate before planting the next crop
we KNOW..that solid rule is discovery..never take more than half
thus half is left for the rest..who also CANNOT take more than half

so we get to mens business
and womans business..in the

[see wikiseed/wikigeld

im noting the wurds used..lol..do you know..what indigenouse means?
native to an area/sans culture..as opposed to our ORIGONAL...ABorigonal culture..that said..we are a part of the land..like your finger is a part of your body..

the absurdity of owning..isnt on the table
fairuse is..i feel if you got an aset//more THAN HALF..must remain
and A TRADESMAN>>..OWNS HIS TOOLS*..so great you found it..took half..just walkaway

see with our way..you dont carry stuff arround..ALL THE TOOLS..needed..to survive is where its needed

the fishtrap..is there..by the rock dam
the cutting stones near the spear tree..the grinding stone next to the grain..when white fella come give us sick smallpox blankets..he take our tools from the sacred places,..where they were of best community use..

but what of this past stuff..well it is still going down..everytime someone takes a bit of your fathers asets..even more than half

by saying your indigenous..like a tree
your not ab-origonknee

see white fela he come from the cold lands..he stores up for winter
we have food all year round,,dont need to hide food behind walls

we had food growing beside our highways[ok paths..that the 'explorers simply followed lol..in diss/covering us

we had food growing beside our highways[ok paths..that the 'explorers simply followed lol..in diss/covering us
UOG,
My personal observations are that the pre-invasion indigenous to this country had absolutely no concept of harmony especially with the land. They still rape & pillage the environment just as they did over several thousand years prior. We just do it more efficiently because of technology. The reason why the wide-eyed open-mouthed do-gooders keep waffling on about this imagined harmony is because the damage remained low due to the small number of inhabitants & technological absence.. Nothing else, nothing planned or designed through any consideration for the environment. The indigenous people have existed in a non-progressive way unlike every other society. For some reason, most likely due to ideal climate there was perhaps no point in building houses etc.
Were they a happier lot then ? We'll never know. All I know is that I haven't yet met one who desired to go go back to that existence in favour of the modern way of life.

individual,

Can you outline the major environmental damage caused by pre-invasion Aboriginal people?

"....We just do it more efficiently because of technology..."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12616079@N00/5141509640/

http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/salinity/default.htm

You said it.....