Aka says “I suggest that perhaps rather than Indigenous Australians having to justify who they are, the other mob - non-Indigenous people - should have to justify who they are and why they expect the handouts they get”

That’s a fair example of someone who attempts to diffuse racism buy being racist- and they say ‘reverse racism’ (admittedly a stupid term, for racism is racism) is a myth.

The following has also been stated a couple of times in various forms “what makes you think Indigenous Australians need to justify themselves to you?”

Well, as long as ‘Indigenous Australians’ are being offered more welfare (i.e. more tax money) than other members of the Australian Community and as long as they are being offered special consideration for acceptance into educational facilities over other members of the Australian Community) then yes, blunt as it is, they should have to justify who that are.

The question is, how do we go about doing this in a reasonable way?

Regardless of these questions it great that these results are coming through and hopefully this means that we are getting closer to a time where we can all acknowledge that Australia is not fundamentally racist but (cliché alert) a genuine land of opportunity for all who are willing to work hard.

I'm surprised that in response to this good news, all that people can do is bicker about the definitions of "indigenous". How about welcoming this news and hoping to hear more and more such stories in the future?

Hi Mattofact,

You have a point: yes, occasionally there are non-Indigenous people who try to take advantage of support for Indigenous students by claiming to be Indigenous, but it's not hard to pick them - when you ask an Indigenous person where they are from and who they are related to, you get answers, usually quite enthusiastic, within seconds. When you ask a ring-in, they will hum and ha, and mumble about their mother being stolen generation etc., and anyway she came from some place far away. Here in SA, a mother from WA or Tasmania was usually favoured when I was working in support programs. I used to send them a 'family tree' form and never heard from them again. Yes, some of these people slip through in more slack programs and some have even gone on to high positions, even as Indigenous policy advisers. Some take another tack and threaten to take a support program to court if they insist on asking about their Indigenous status. That's usually a good giveaway.

2008 enrolment data come out in a week or two, and graduation data in a month, so if anybody is interested, get in touch with me on: rmg1859@yahoo.com.au I'm confident that they will show new records.

Joe

Dear Benny Tea
"I'm surprised that in response to this good news, all that people can do is bicker about the definitions of "indigenous". How about welcoming this news and hoping to hear more and more such stories in the future"
I rejoice at good news from anybody who travels down the path to enlightenment and knowledge. But it was the author who stated "In time, this population intermarried with other working people, overwhelmingly non-Indigenous, leading to a massive upsurge in the Indigenous birth-rate from the late 80s onwards: birth-group numbers rose from about 7,000 to 11,000". So to me the question was: why classify a child of indigenous and non indigenous as indigenous when their genes are are mixture of indigenous and non indigenous parents?

Loudmouth. Another problem you may have in distinguishing the dinky die from the imposter, is the influx of black African migrants we have had in the past few years. A lot of them are as black as the ace of spades, so you might give them a pass without even thinking about it. Most of them seem to pretty good people, a pity about the countries they come from.

David

Well I'd like to chip in. Someone said that the courses might be "dumbed down" and something about engineering etc.

For the past few years in one of my work roles I have shared an office with a colleague who is Indigenous and completing his degree in health studies.

I'm a veteran of a couple of degrees and post-graduate study as well. A few times I've seen some of his work books and assignments - and I tell you it would knock your socks off. I formed the opinion long ago that if anything the course plan demonstrated an over self-consciousness - requiring much more of the students than comparable courses undertaken by non-Indigenous students. An endless string of really hard assignments; hard marking; requirements to meet deadlines and to attend University residentials that are a long way away - while holding a full-time job in a busy professional environment as well - at modest pay, I might add.

I thought it was overkill. Now reading some of opinions here, I suppose that the coursework has been designed in anticipation of the harsh and unwarranted judgements that I'm reading.

Btw: When speaking of population numbers, it's reasonable to consider people Indigenous if that is part of their heritage. It just means that they are entitled to claim that status if they choose to; whereas anyone who is non-Aboriginal, obviously, isn't entitled to do the same (except under very special conditions)