Currently 250 indigenous delegates are meeting at Uluru Conference Centre and will vote today [Friday] on Constitutional reforms. Seven delegates and supporters from NSW have walked out of the Conference because they want treaty recognition which has not gained the support of the majority.

Thanks Foxy, there are none better or more inspirational as a community leader than Shane Pillips.

The positive achievements for Aboriginal people over the last 50 years, could not even been imagined on Referendum day in 1967. If you had asked the average voter on that day. who incidentally overwhelmingly voted yes, what they had voted for, they most likely could not tell you. other than offering some vagary that they had given "rights" to Aboriginal people. In the 5 years of conservative rule in Canberra after the referendum there was little change for the indiginous, they were still being marginalized, discriminated against and disadvantaged. Not until Whitlam came to power in 1972 did things start to change.

The question still remains what is the future for our indigenous Australians? No does it all hold together.

Joe, thanks for your comments, self determination is only practicable when people have the tools necessary to self determinate. Check out Africa after independence and the exit of colonialism. Then we do not want to impose our own form of patronage with missionary zeal, even if it is well intended. We can say in name "I impose upon you equality." but the reality at that time was very much different. Was the referendum no more than a feel good exercise, or a deflection from what could be. One must be suspicious of the conservatives motives who put it up, given their inaction over the next 5 years of government.

Hassy, I tried to make up a list of undeserving groups in society you hate. I gave up at entry 27,962, Hawaiian shirt wearers. Can you help me with that list

Dear Paul,

There is certainly still much to be done as far as
our First People are concerned. Deaths in custody,
youths in prison, suicide rates, rates of disease,
and the list goes on. The following link may also
be worth discussing:

http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/selfdetermination/would-a-treaty-help-aboriginal-self-determination#axzz4161FmVpx

Joe has corrected Paul's ignorance; nothing further need be said.

Paul, you are wrong when you say aboriginal affairs was at a low ebb in 1967. I don't know where you were living at that time, but in the Kimberley the majority of aboriginal people were buying houses, going to university, being trained as tradesmen, voting, working and paying taxes like everyone else in the country.
Since then matters have improved so much that now over 30% of aboriginal people own their own homes, many, including one of my sons have started their own businesses, university qualified numbers are soaring as Joe has stated, and there are more programs and facilities available for aboriginal people than white people have ever dreamed of.
The fact that a small proportion of the aboriginal community have massive social problems is nothing to with lack of funding or attention but everything to do with traditional culture and the well meaning but destructive paternalism of left wing groups who seem to never heard of the theory of allowing people to live with the consequences of their actions.