After having already given an opinion in this forum, I would like to leave a few questions about Aboriginal matters this time as I am not an Australian. And I would like to get to know about this from local people
I have read that Aboriginal language and culture is now taught in Australiian schools, even if still progress ought to be made in order to reach every pupil. Furthermore I have surfed onto a language center's site where they encouraged non-indigenous people to learn a local Aboriginal language .After having read such, I wondered if pupils and others get opportunities to practice their speaking skills.
For Centralians and other residentials around the Western desert area, opportunities to practice one of the more vital languages are certainly given.

But especially in metropolitan and Eastern Australia, few speakers of the local language or local Aboriginal people practicing traditional culture are left. Is it nevertheless possible for interested non-Aboriginal people to get in touch with local Aboriginal culture or/and the local language on a regular base where a revitalization project is underway?
Do contacts between traditionally living Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal citizens commonly exist today because of reconcilialtion efforts?
Are there the same plorable conditions in each of the Aboriginal communities or do communities getting by quite successfully exist?
I have read that some land councils have installed accomodation sites for visitors. Is it possible there to meet Aboriginal people informally beside organized events?
How do members of remote Aboriginal communities get around? I suppose that not everybody has a vehicle there. And public transports at fixed lines and timetables are not possible to operate in very remote areas.
Do all non-Aboriginal Australians who are living in an Aboriginal community consist of employees serving organizations of Aboriginal affairs?
Is there a church or a church service in each Aboriginal community today? Have Aboriginal forms of christian liturgy been developed? Are there heavily convinced Christians today among Aboriginal people who put their traditional stories into biblical context?

Thank you very much in advance.

Alex

I most vehemently object to American “missionaries” blanketing the indigenous world including Aboriginal Australia with their corrupted texts of their version of the ancient religious beliefs of nomadic Semite tribes of Western Asia. Those original texts were the exclusive faiths of the Semitic Western Asian family of nomadic desert dwelling peoples and were not inclusive or intended to address other humans that populated the earth at the same time.

However since “others” have adopted those Semite faiths, they have also corrupted and debauched the faith debasing it well beyond the original belief so that it no longer has any semblance to the original word. This is what happens when one culture adopts another’s culture especially when the adopting culture is totally incompatible with the original for then adaptations of the originating culture have to be instigated so as to make it correspondingly fit into the adopting culture.

In the end what do you get? A whole lot of gobbledygook that is manufactured by men and of no relevance to anyone other than those that peddle it!

Please stop fouling the world of indigenous peoples with your verbal garbage coz they have their very own beliefs and don’t require your manufactured pollutants muddying the waters. Over and out!!

Westralis,
I second that !

Err Westralis....you are a bit confused there.

My wife is ONE of those 'indigenous' tribes, and they DID have their 'own beliefs' and it was what you describe as a multi level 'corrupted' semitic religion which saved them from certain self destruction.

So... 1/ You are wrong. 2/ You are misguided. 3/ You are offensive.

OCCIDENTAL.... learning an aboriginal language might be ok if you plan to work among 'that' particular group.. but has little relevance outside such a field.

In my view, (though I do speak an indigenous language) it would be more beneficial to learn Indonesian (which I also speak) or Mandarin.

Preserving Aboriginal culture by westerners will ultimately cause problems.. the unforseen type. I think the Aboriginals can work out for themselves what is in their best interests.

For some..this has mean't embracing Christ and his Church (whichever form it came to them in)...for others.. traditional beliefs are preferrred.

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/info/ind/footprints/community/missions/mainland/d-e#doomadgee

http://www.aimpa.com/About.htm
From the very beginning ministry was aimed at establishing Aboriginal Christians to lead and guide their own people.

The indigenous Bornean church (S.I.B.) is today a vibrant independant Church with indigenous leadership 100%

http://www.sibsabah.org.my/bm/

When I called up this page a moment ago..it blew me away.. we used to hang out in an old weatherboard dilapidated building in Kota Kinabalu (SIB headquarters) .. complete with Cockroaches and rats.

The HQ of the Ranau area is built on an old POW camp.. graves everywhere..no one else was brave enough to even go there..(fear of spirits)

cheers

Dear Alex,

You certainly have so many questions
on Aboriginal matters.

The following website may be a good
place to start:

http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/

They do provide not only information,
but other links.

Good luck!

I love the way ATSI people are treated on this forum, they are regularly portrayed as being "victims" of some scheme, as well as being so "childish" that they could not possibly be asked to help themselves out of the rut they find themselves in.

Yes, they have been cruelly treated, often at the hands of missionaries (the truth, for better or worse, remains the truth). They have been launched from essentially the stone-age (which, given the environment & country, they had no need to move out of), to the industrial age with very little in the way of assistance to adapt.

As an ex-Centralian, I've seen them in shops & pubs where they are preyed on as a source of funds... A large proportion of the shops in Alice Springs exist to separate (a) tourists from their money; and (b) ATSI people from their pictures/artwork/etc. (a) is spent on (b), but the ATSI people might if they are VERY lucky see 5% of the proceeds.

Teaching people the languages of these tribes is pointless at the moment, given the state of play in Central Australia (particularly with petrol), there is a very real chance that these tribal groups will die out.

On top of that, there are far more pressing issues, namely bringing the communities out of their induced condition, and actually get them to work alongside us to build socially, politically and economically viable communities, capable of policing and governing themselves. Until that is done, there is no point (other than an ephemeral one) trying to prop up the communities as they currently exist. They are the closest thing to hell on earth I've ever seen (and I challenge anyone who says otherwise to state which community in that region they have visited that was otherwise).

Propping them up in the current form merely prolongs the agony, either put them out of their misery or make the effort to bring them into the 1st world nation we live in. Stop making noises and half-baked attempts at change that are doomed from the outset

Dear Custard,

Would you like sugar with your tea Sir?

I think you could use it!

Dear Alex,

I've come across and another website
that may also be helpful:

http://www.creativespirits.info/resources/books/index.html

It's worth a look.

Its a list of the latest book releases
by Aboriginal Australian authors. Book
Reviews and Antologies.

Quite interesting and on the topics you are
interested in.

Westralia, first I am not an American, but German, second your post is a bit off topic and highly offensive. Why such a hatepost on one single question involving the christian faith?
Yes, I object to the kind of acting of some American evangelicals, too. But generally speaking, it is a human right to tell others about your faith of which you are highly convinced.

I am honestly interested in getting information from citizens living in Australia.

It is clear that indigenous people ought to decide themselves about the actions in order to save their languages and traditions. But it is also clear that some citizens will be interested in the culture of the indigenous inhabitants of their residential region.. This must never mean curious watching like watching animals in the zoo. It is more use taking actively part as a local resident. I am generally against both extremes where more than one people are living in one single area::Strict segregation as well as complete integration. The last will probably menace the distinct identity of the smaller groups.

Indeed, Indonesian or Mandarin are without doubt of great use for Australian. On the other hand I object to neoliberal thinking in terms of pure professional benefits. Neoliberalism, (real),imperialism and last but not least TV are the main threat towards cultural diversity.

Alex

Thank you for all contributing posts.

To Custard:
Have I understood it right that the touristic industry is busy to use Aboriginal artwork in order to seperate tourists of their money?
Why do Aboriginal people remain in those communities instead of moving back to cities if the living conditions are that bad?
I do not think that teaching indigenous languages to locall pupils is pointless if they will get opportunities to practice their new skills. The decisions to do efforts to keep their languages alive as well as other decisions concerning their fate Has to come from the Aboriginal people themselves. But why not supporting their languages by teaching them to all local pupils if the tribes give their OK?
In the past they have already predicted the dying out of the Aboriginal tribes as weill as they predicted the disappearance of native Americans 100 years ago.. But it has not become true! Wjy should it be likely to happen in the future?

Alex

The aboriginal people stay in the communities (a) because they have no skills (no way to learn them); (b) are poorly educated; and (c) have no prospect of making any headway on the open job market as a consequence.

Many also stay due to the fact that their family is from there, that they feel safe only when in that community (inter-clan rivalries and feuds are serious stuff).

As to the rip-off mill that is Alice Springs, most of the "Aboriginal Culture" that tourists can experience there (at no small price either), is provided by groups fully owned & operated by white corporations, staffed by Aboriginal performers from NE Qld (the local blackfellas aren't going to risk being 'sung'/'speared' - a woman gave a journalist details of secret business and the person who stabbed her was acquitted on the grounds that it was tribal lore).

With the paintings, the majority of paintings in Centralia get bought for between $10-20/ea and are then onsold for many times that.

Mate, with the Centralian communities and the endemic petrol sniffing, the chances of genocide not occurring (and how will we look then, having seen it and not acted?) are nil. The proportion of seriously brain-damaged/dead youths are starting to stack up and as they are the next generation, how do you propose to "restock" the area?

Thus my indifference to languages, there are far more important priorities NOW, that need funding, carping on about languages merely allows those with skeletons to hide to conveniently change the subject.

Aboriginal languages are not even spoken much by their own youth ,little interest is shown until later in life.
What value can you from another country put on it?
Would it be better if they lived ten more years.
Lived away from shanty towns and grog?
Sent Children to school.
Not one person alive today saw the so called invasion.
None of us saw those alleged murders of white settlers or the mass murders of Aboriginals.
Yes some saw and suffered in the stolen generation, whites too, for little reason felt the pain of being removed by welfare from family's.
It was wrong, so very many things in history haunt us, your country's ww11 actions for just a start.
Every Pacific Island was invaded.
Is it worth while to wallow in the wrongs of yesterday?
Is that the reason for todays child sexual molestation,drunkenness, can we say shanty towns even new houses turned in to one, are yesterdays problem?
In truth, with every inch of my person I think such thoughts are part of the problem.
I battle for a mans job, his future his life, he has lost 183 days work, never rang never told anyone.
I must table information he was raped by an uncle at age 5, saw his mate stabbed to death at 16 then another at 23.
Blame History if you must, blame whites if you must.
But if you care put and end to this not unusual life story put in every effort to fix it but never forget yesterdays are if you look bad for every one.

Dear Custard
at the risk of incurring critical comment from you :)... your comment 'often at the hands of missionaries' was really a bit over the top.

The primary 'predators' on ATSI people are 'white' man rather than one small segement of them.

You say "often" cruelly treated... but do you have statistics which are not produced by other 'white' men who really want to discredit Missions because the missions stand in the way of those other 'white' men making a truckload of money by selling sly grog and other materials which are unhelpful to the communities ?

Have you seen any of the various doco's on NITV where Aboriginals cannot speak highly enough of the work of missionaries and of those brave souls who stood up FOR the Aboriginals in the face of less ethnically minded whites who wanted for one reason or another to keep them 'dumb, ignorant and drunk'.

It seems some of you folks have not known the inside story very much.
Nothing is monolithic of course and we cannot say "all" missions or missionaries were mr/ms Clean in regard to some paternalistic practices. They were a product of their time.. and they included both good and not so good.. or wise and unwise.

The founder of the mission I served with was an example of the wise.
Dr James Hudson Taylor, dressed like a Chinese.. spoke like a Chinese..even grew a pigtail to identify.. you can meet chinese Christians the world over now who fondly recall his work, (1800s) and the work of those who served selflessly with the China Inland Mission.
http://www.omf.org/omf/us/resources__1/videos_online/140_years_of_cim_omf

Have a look at the dress.. the images.. in that vid.
Hudson Taylor used to keep only the bare essentials from his meagre allowance in UK prior to shipping out..and the remainder he used to support the poor and impoverished in britains slums.

You can do a lot of damage by a simple phrase "Often by Missionaries"

OccidentalChristian

I have wonderful news for you. Despite the vilifying god haters there are many among the aboriginals who have a love for the Lord Jesus. I know many of them and many communities have a non denominational church. Sometimes it is the only alcohol free place.

Generally aboriginals in the outback get around in car loads of people. They pile in as many people as possible and many are quite good bush mechanics.

In many of the communities they have church services a number of times a week. In some communinties its not that often.

Generally with the hardships most aboriginals go through they are far more spiritually aware of their need for the Lord Jesus Christ than most whities. Most communities have actually gone backwards since the Government took control of the communities. There is an aboriginal industry where a few Government workers and leaders make a packet but the rest miss out. I have been told by some elders how much more self respect they had when the missionaries ran communities.
The sacrifice of many of the early missionaries has really paid off in that many reverenced the Lord.

Like with most places the god haters have a very selected bias view of history. They are more concerned about dogma than results. They would even rather prsevere what they see as 'culture' than prevent child abuse and women bashing. They really have no idea and are more concerned about their self loathing dogma being pushed than results for aboriginal people.

Rest assured the aboriginals in Australia will be represented in heaven

Thank you very much for your post, runner. I have researched the web for some communities but did not find the mentionIng of a church within the community.

I am wondering ihow the Aboriginal Christians integrate the christian faith into their tribal identity. I would like to know how they celebrate church services. I hope not in the same way as white Australians. I have, for example, a clear image of how black Africans celebrate church services, but none of all how Aboriginal Australians or native Americans do.
Nowadays, there are christophobs in Europe who say that introducing the christian faith into Europe was a mistake and that we ought to return to our ancient faiths. Such statements are, as you can see, not limited to indigenous contexts. One woman said to me that one day I will be estonished about the new strength of the ancient faith. But I personally am proud of what missionaries had done around my region and that we had integrated the christian faith well into our identity.

I suppose that rising petrol prices effect Aboriginal communities much harder than more urban areas.

I have read about alcohol bans on Aboriginal lands many times. Do many inhabitants act against such bans in secret?

100 years ago, the Aboriginal people have been seen as a group as a whole whose dying out would be unavoidable. But today, they have even become more numerous. In the U.S., there has been predicts about the end of native Americans, too. This is not to say that present living conditions do not threaten their existance of their distinct culture.
In any case, earth would suffer a huge loss if a great amount of distinct indigenous identities got extinguished. Australia would be among the countries effected the most heavily.

Alex

I am sorry to intrude on OC's thread but I feel deeply offended and villified by runner's comments about "villifying god haters".

How can one hate something that does not exist. I have trouble in understanding runner's constant attacks on atheists as 'god haters'. It is as if he must attribute a negative stigma to the atheist as a 'hater' rather than a non-believer for his own spurious purposes.

If he is that uncomfortable and insecure about his own faith that he cannot speak about others in non-judgemental and harsh tones, then I suggest he re-examine his own position.

OccidentalChristian,

Often the meetings are held outside around a campfire. The aboriginals that I know and have worshiped with sing country style. No matter what song they sing it becomes country style.Meetings can sometimes go for hours and a far less structured than what most Europeans have.

Pelican

Assuming the comments were made to you how can you be offended at being called a hater of Someone you claim does not exist. A bit bizzare. I am certainly not insecure about my faith and am more convinced than ever of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

The whole dogma of God not existing however is totally absurd. You are actually in a good place if you are offended. Jesus offended many people in order to bring them to repentance and hence eternal life. You are in real strife when your conscience is so hard that you are unable to receive forgiveness and grace.

runner
I was being somewhat tongue cheek - I am not easily villified.

However, you continue to denigrate and pass judgement on atheists as lacking in morals, god-haters (not possible by definition), corrupt etc.

While I understand those with faith may resort to that approach to validate and justify their own choices, I believe that the only thing that is borne from this behaviour is ultimately hatred. The world would be a better place if we loved each other and helped each other without a missionary's objective in my view, although I know many missionaries act from a belief in their own good.

Pelican

'The world would be a better place if we loved each other and helped each other without a missionary's objective in my view, although I know many missionaries act from a belief in their own good.'

No doubt the world would be a much better place if we loved each other. The state of the world is that most can't even keep a marriage vow. Then they blubber on about love. Love is action not some sloppy feeling that we should all just get along. A true missionary does not act from a belief in their own good. They know they have no good apart from what they receive in Christ. There would of been no need for Christ if man had his own goodness. History and current day observations consistently confirm the Scriptures view of the corrupt nature. Thank God for sending His Son who is and was the only incorruptible One.

What I think offends most who reject Christ is the fact that they can not rely on their self righteousness to be accepted by a holy and righteous God. No doubt that is why the prostitute and druggie is more likely to come to God than the self righteous. Interesting many turn to an environmental religion when the reject being cleansed inwardly.

I always like to take a longer term view in these matters and we have the movie Avatar at present where the film maker is predicting a little over 100 years till the oil runs out [and dudes are off to see the blue people to get Unobtainium].

Of course americans think only of america and talk of end of "mankind" [even in those Nat Geo docos] but that ignores the fact that a sizeable portion of population of Earth does NOT use oil/electricity whatever, and there is no reason why they will not simply live on when no oil.

Of course the poor nations WITH oil eg Iraq now and Africa next will be raped & pillaged BY america along the way, but america is not about to attack centralia for oil [but will go for our Uranium of course].

IMHO the rule is the closer you are to the earth the better your survival and our aboriginals are far better placed than white folk to simply go back to how they survived 40,000 years ago [without Newstart], especially without us here.

runner
I agree the druggie and prostitute are more likely to turn to God. They are vulnerable people, it is natural from a psychological aspect. The only one being self righteous here is you in your claims that people are unable to behave well without belief in the supernatural.

There are many Christians who believe in Climate Change, it is not a religion despite you wishing to cast it into the same light, as if attributing religion to it makes it seem less worthy - quite bizarre if you think about it.

Apologies OC, I did not intend to derail your thread thus, in hindsight should have just kept my feelings to myself. Runner and I will both no doubt continue to maintain our own views, hopefully both respecting the other despite our differences.

'the only one being self righteous here is you in your claims that people are unable to behave well without belief in the supernatural.'

No Pelican the only self righteousness here is claiming those who are good without the only Good God. You seem to be mixed up. Self righteousness stems from a belief in 'self' not God.

I acknowledge that there are believers who believe in the gw fantasy. It seems like a broad church that has deceived many. Thankfully there are believers and non believers who demand evidence that isn't corrupted and fiddled with.

I heard, that the last thing Jesus said to the aborigines was "Don't do anything until I get back..."

But honestly, isn't it about time we all took a step back and considered, maybe the aborigines have enough on their plate without being such a hot topic on the internet... You reckon you can sort out their problems, go and give them a hand instead of painting them in a bad light.

we DO help them in FNQ

because they take a drinks during the day [all our fault of course] by evening they are leggless and throw bricks at windows etc just to thank us for the dole that GAVE them the time & grog.

so we just adopted same Police mentality solution all sales of 4l cardboard are forbidden before 4PM [apparently they figure our black cousins are not smart enough to stock up].

they/we can buy the 5l or 2l casks but not 4l - go figure, or they can but anything in GLASS [which are good to throw] - go figure again.

so as most people live outside Mossman and come in once a week for all their shopping, incl cardboard, Mossman has turned into a ghost town until 4 PM, and nobody goes to Sat morning markets anymore.

So IMHO we ARE being totally considerate, cept to the commercial side of town, ie the ones that generate the dole

Occidentalchristian- the Aboriginal people of Australia do not need 'saving' by anyone.
They will deal with their own problems and don't need to be patronized by yet another Christian group.

I see you have a friend in Runner? Before you get too excited, do read over some of his previous loving past comments on this forum.

Sorry runner you come across as a bigot, now you may not be, maybe think you are not, but its the way you present your self here.
I am not sure suzeonline you understand, while Christians have done much more harm than good Aboriginals can not yet look after themselves.
I refuse to blame yesterday, but do blame us all, very much including aboriginals for today.
OC is about as handy as an ash tray on a Harley, reality and accountability is needed for us ALL.
Understanding while China, Korea, Malaysia, Pacific Islands saw Japan MURDER far more and with far more brutality those folk have not forgotten but they have not retreated into a nightmare life either.
What is wrong with commitment and accountability towards a better life , home, education for children, from every Australian for our first?
No way I like the slant of some posts here but it is true grog is ruining whole people and Refuse to blame my great grand parents for it.

No, a LOT of the issues came from the missionaries. The "Catholic Church" admits to the incredible amount of child abuse, and the implementation of "dry communities" is the biggest problem I've ever run into.

People live there, but they cannot have a drink? What happens next? Binge drinking, massive markups, hot grog, etc.

Al, please mate try and see what I am writing, I know many of the people who are complaining about this.

The difficulty is, that the "churchies" on the communities REFUSE to even contemplate the introduction of "Light beer" which is about the only way possible to ensure that the "hot-grog/grog-runners" stop.

They see only the fact that the "evil" will be allowed, where did they get that mindset? From the missionaries?

Binge drinking on top of zero-tolerance to alcohol, is the cause of the violence, drunkeness and malnutrition (indirectly due to the cost of a carton via the runners, $100-120/carton). The hot grog cannot be dealt with as the police prefer to "turn a blind eye to it" (whether because they are too frightened to deal with it, or their mates are involved).

The child abuse is rampant and is traceable in a large part to the missionaries and the "protectors"...

Try actually asking the people, don't just assume they are "dumb fella blackfellas" and actually listen to what they say, don't just interpret it how it suits you or your predetermined feelings/determinations.

No Belly, unfortunately I understand all too well about the plight of many Aboriginals- at least here in W.A., having worked in both country and city Aboriginal communities in the past.

Saying they are not able to look after themselves is a very patronizing statement, and is not true of many Aboriginal people.

The adults know very well how to look after themselves.
They have alcohol and substance abuse problems in disproportionately larger numbers than other communities, but they need to come to that realization themselves because no one can force anyone to stop drinking.

If we stop selling alcohol in one town, the alcoholics will get it some other way.
The only way we can now help these people is by starting with the next generation- the kids.

Education is the only way they will ever get ahead.

The government needs to concentrate on providing the same health and education opportunities to Aboriginal children as they do to all other children- or nothing will ever improve.

The kids from remote towns and communities should be sent to boarding schools if there isn't a good school close by.

They can then go home for holidays, just like plenty of other kids do.

We then can't be accused of starting a whole new 'stolen generation', but yet still give the kids the education they need.

a lot suzeonline that you say in that post is my thoughts.
How would I know?
Well two boys and a girl I raised wed Aboriginals.
I am looking after about 80 at work, some intensively.
I too have lived around Australia, even been offered to be bought into a tribe, but declined as most who do that do so to benefit.
My post history here and from years ago in another forum demands education accountability and opportunity for them all.
EVERY project to make jobs has failed.
Accountability is hidden under blaming white for failure.
failure to go to work, to stay of grog and drugs, you probably know the child rape is real done by family and more common than not.
No welfare for those who will not see kids educated, nore for those who will not work, or those who do not care.
in three generations an educated youth would show the pain was worth the gain.
it is not good enough to leave it like it is.

I actually am beginning to see "some" posters who have actual experience with the issues, who are reaching some form of consensus as to the most pressing issues.

I wonder, I honestly do, if we could possibly reach that consensus, what are the most pressing issues, because it is then and only then that we can look at working out how to approach the manifold problems in a sane, rational manner.

We can only deal with a couple of problems at any one time. Lets make a real effort (ignoring those who would sidetrack the argument) to diagnose the issues that are most pressing and those which HAVE to be addressed before any progress CAN be made.

Personally, I think the very first issue to be addressed, is to hand responsibility for Policing on ALL communities to the AFP.

State Police have failed miserably, they have corrupt relationships, bizarre community relationships, etc. The AFP would be a new broom, which might have some chance of seeing the issues before becoming sidetracked into merely hounding those who don't show them the respect due them, but actually dealing with the problems that have led to that sad state of affairs.

State Police will not fight to remain in the Communities, and the Communities will not fight to keep them there. The State Governments should wipe their hands of the issue(s), they have failed miserably after all.

Let the Commonwealth deal with the issue, lets see what happens when Canberra HAS to acknowledge the third world in their backyard.

Custard...(thanx 4 reminding me.. there's still some in the fridge.. in time for Frazier at 9.30)

umm you said:

//They see only the fact that the "evil" will be allowed, where did they get that mindset? From the missionaries?//

You were referring to light beer.. well.. it might surprise you to know that the tribe into which I married, went through the following cycle.

1/ Initial state. Drunk more days/year than sober. ("Drunk before Dawn" a book was written about their plight)
2/ They used to have regular massive drunken celebrations involving rice whine (Borak) (Pre Christian times)

3/ They invited Missionaries to come and teach them about Christ.

4/ The missionaries did not tell them 'don't drink at all' they would have been in error if they had. The biblical principle is don't get drunk...and this they passed on.

5/ The tribal people discovered that 'moderation' for them...did not work.. it just brought back all the old stuff which had been killing them.

6/ Thus.. by their own decision..they made it a practice to have no drinking at all. This is within the Church context of course. In most cases that was 'everyone' but the odd family here and there stayed with the old custom, and the boozing.

Suzonline.

ur pretty harsh you know.. doesn't seem to be much room for anything good about Christians in your mind.. am I right?

But a technical point about your claim "They don't need saving"

That's quite a big discussion, but the short version is that ALL mankind 'needs saving' by fundamental doctrine and command of Christ.
"Go into all the world.. and make disciples" etc. Matt 28:19ff

In fact 'you' need saving.. as do all on OLO. Repentance and faith..in Christ is what saves.

Boaz (Algoreisrich) wrote, "the tribe into which I married".

I presume you're referring to an Australian aboriginal "tribe". Is this correct?

If so, then name the "tribe" please.

O Jesus, after having read the posts, I am wondering if there are any "communal Aboriginal people" who get by well.

Alex