Runner,
it is interesting to note your use of the word 'bondage' because since invasion that is exactly what has happened to so many Indigenous Australians. Starting at the very beginning, the bondage of our mob for the sole benifit of the settlers has been going on.

Early settlers accounts tell of sexual bondage of children and women by the early british invaders, and shockingly there is a documented account of it occuring in the 1970's. People were forced into bondage to work on cattle properties, farms, and so on. Again this is documented by the settler/invaders themselves. Working for wages that were never paid, being dictated where they were allowed to go and being sent to work without the rights to refuse ... the list goes on.
Bondage and slavery - curse of colonisation.

The settlers caused the disarray of Indigneous society and have directly been the cause of the disfunction that you are commenting on. Surely it is time for Indigenous Australians to be listened to on what is needed here. We have been ignored for over 200 years

Aka

I have no doubt some of the accounts of the British settlers sexually abused children and women. This is repulsive. You must acknowledge that some of the British settlers also raped and were violent against their own just like your own people have had sexual abuse and violence prevalent for a long time before white man landed here. It goes on today at a far higher rate among the aboriginals than most places. I acknowledge that much of this is due to alcohol and drug issues.

The point is that many people living in this nation have come from very tragic backgrounds. Speak to any South African and you will be flat out finding one who has not had a friend or family member murdered or seriously injured due to crime. Speak to some whites (like my mother) who spent 8 years in an orphanage. Everyone can find a reason to remain a victim and live an unproductive drunken life. The only ones that are suffering are your own people (and a few victims of crime).

Through your indoctrination and very one sided view of history you may look at Colonization as a curse but without it tribal warfare and conditions much much worse than you have today would exist.

It's unfortunate that discussion on this very important issue gets sidetracked by people who only wish to air their personal prejudice and ignorance, judging a whole race of Indigenous people within the confines of their prejudice and the examples of a minority of people who have taken to alcoholism, petrol sniffing and drug taking in their descent into hopelessness.

That hopelessness is created by successive administrations who have gone before Jenny Macklin and Mal Brough, implementing their own policies arrived at through their paternalistic models without reference to the very people they are meant to be helping as John has already pointed out.

It is not a valid argument to refer to ones own misfortune.

The matter of Indigenous development is one which must look at the realities of each Community in consultation with the whole community including the men.

The issues that are common throughout ALL communities are Lack of employment and/or training, the overcrowding in unsuitable housing,
through the lack of understanding and ignorant disregard for the extended family structure and culture in Aboriginal Society,

The absence of services that all other Australians take for granted.

The various ministers talk about providing houses instead of providing the training and means for Aborigines to build their own houses as just one example of the negative way the enormous problems are addressed.

Australian white society prefers to ignore the crimes that have been and are still committed against Aboriginal people such as deaths in custody and stolen wages that would not be tolerated if the victims were any race other than Aboriginal.

maracas1,

It is your prejudice that compounds the problems of the Aboriginals. When houses are built and then destroyed in large numbers it is obvious that there are internal issues to deal with. When education is provided and the kids don't turn up for school it is obvious that money is not the problem. Carry on with the dogmas about not enough money but anyone who has observed the issue and have not got a political axe to grind knows better. You would do well to listen to the likes of Noel Pearson who is prepared to face the truth and get off his bum because he genuinely cares for aboriginal people. He understands that long held unproductive belief systems need to be changed. The assertion that deaths in custody is somehow the whites man's fault is offensive and racist. Probably the white man's biggest crime is to give sit down grog money to both blacks and whites.

Runner;

Your accusation of prejudice on my part is rich coming from an apologist for past and present treatment of Aboriginal people expressed in one of your earlier posts.

Your references to damage to housing and absenteeism from school might have been current during transition periods 40 years ago is reminiscent of that element in our community who continue to blame the victims for their predicament and don't present evidence to support assertions or recognise problems of overcrowding due to insufficient housing.

You are so prejudiced you cannot bring yourself to recognise any of the positive progress and developments in Aboriginal Communities such as successes in promoting their Art and world recognition of their music.

You identify Noel Pearson as a person with the answers.

Noel Pearson appears to have identified a problem but the quality of his leadership and success of his proposals will depend on whether or not he has the ability to involve his whole community in a solution.

Otherwise he just becomes a stooge for the Howard/ Brough intervention which is now seen one year down the track with no evidence of widespread child abuse as a hastily executed political stunt prior to an election as they pulled off in the 'children overboard' fiasco.

Congratulations on a thoughtful piece of writing John.

It's unfortunate that many posters to this forum decline to read these pieces closely and engage in genuine discussion.

Vitriol is easy. We need cool heads and rigourous examination.

Strength to your arm.