I shall ignore the hackneyed comments and cut to the chase. L.N.Lane (The Investigator 1988) wrote; Tribal domains all over Australia were usually five or six sided fitting together something like a honeycomb. Overall, tribasl numbers were similar. Tribes numbering less than 500 and hordes numbering 30 or 40. Tribal holdings were small in Victoria where the climate produced a plentitude of edibles.........Each tribe spoke a distinctly different language from all the other tribes....Most Aborigines were bi-lingual....Wathaurong territory impinged on at least 5 other tribal lands...it was not uncommon for them to meet under truce.....Diplomatic concerns prevented bloodshed during the period of the corroboree......

Tribal boundaries lay along rivers, ranges, the sea or biological discontinuities....end of quotes

How many of us are bilingual? How many nations would have the nous to cease fighting for a corroboree? In fact what nation could possibly last as long as the Aboriginal nation? I think if we bother we can learn how to run local, state and federal government from the very same people who are still being sneered at and classed as incompetent. Thank you to all for your comments...better than none at all.....June

my website is www.geocities.com/ryanjune54/

CJ

I missed your post, I am very glad to know that there is someone else out there who finds Gerbran's proposals as objectional as they are nauseating.

Where is Rainier? We need your perspective.

Good point, but that was back then, not now. I just cant see this happening, as some tribes (mine included) just cant reconcile and they continue to behave this way, its not like the old days with the old people, its due to abuse, neglect and government. I reckon the young ones forget what our people fought for and I find education from both Aboriginal and non is the key, that is how my family got out of it and I noticed having non Aboriginal people learn our history and my culture etc forms reconciliation. At my school we did cultural awareness, stolen generation excursions, learnt Aboriginal language, history and science. It helped my school greatly and there was a strong feeling of acceptance and unity as not many Aboriginal kids went to my school and it was quite prestigious.

CJMorgan “I did, and said so - but I'm quite astonished that only Fractelle and I have thus far commented on this extraordinary idea.”

Fractelle “I missed your post, I am very glad to know that there is someone else out there who finds Gerbran's proposals as objectional as they are nauseating.”

Actually, you two were not the only ones.

Not even the first ones.

(But you would probably both rather choke to death than ever agree with me . . . is that coughing I hear. . . )

Dear Fractelle and CJ,

Have neither of you read my post either?

My Dear Foxy and Col

I stand corrected.

I guess I was too traumatised by the thought of an apartheid state designed to provide servants, just blinded me to all else.

Perhaps, it is also Gerbran's complete failure to note that her ideas are not acceptable.