40,000 year old Australian Aboriginal Remains Returned to Ancestral Home

[Zoii]

This is a good story. Its one that teaches us about the coming together and respect between our need to understand our sociological history through scientific discovery, but done in a manner that respects traditional peoples of that land. This is a story about Mungo Man - 40,000 year old remains of a person who was buried and seemingly accorded high respect at the time of his burial.
Mungo Man returned to ancestral home where he died 40,000 years ago

 

[Tomm]

This is a good story. Its one that teaches us about the coming together and respect between our need to understand our sociological history through scientific discovery, but done in a manner that respects traditional peoples of that land.[/URL]

Australian voters are not being told the truth about the proposal for constitutional recognition of indigenous people. The goal of Aboriginal political activists today is to gain sovereignty and create a black state, equivalent to the existing states. Its territory, comprising all land defined as native title, will soon amount to more than 60 per cent of the whole Australian continent.
Real Agenda Behind Aboriginal Recognition

 

[Zoii]

Australian voters are not being told the truth about the proposal for constitutional recognition of indigenous people. The goal of Aboriginal political activists today is to gain sovereignty and create a black state, equivalent to the existing states. Its territory, comprising all land defined as native title, will soon amount to more than 60 per cent of the whole Australian continent.
Real Agenda Behind Aboriginal Recognition

Tom, this is quite off topic as its intent is more anthropological than political.
Also I don't accept your assertion concerning a black state. Native title is a reality recognised through the high court of Australia. Our country hasn't suffered in any way what so ever as a result of the High Courts decision. On the contrary.

 

[ken777]

These gestures do nothing for the plight of Aboriginal people and are not significant in the quality of Aboriginal life in Australia.

 

[Zoii]

These gestures do nothing for the plight of Aboriginal people and are not significant in the quality of Aboriginal life in Australia.

I can only reflect the statements made by aboriginal leaders. The returning of aboriginal remains isn't a mere gesture, it is of considerable spiritual importance. His mob were particularly aggrieved that his remains, remained within museums when they should rest in his ancestral grounds and allow his spirit to wander the lands of his birth. It is core to their spiritual beliefs that date back 40,000 plus years.

This also marked a different approach in anthropology which is recognised by aboriginal communities as invaluable to their own historical understanding, but is now done in partnership and with respect to the traditions of the traditional owners of the land.

As for the "plight"? I think I can guess some of the things you refer to - Health status, incarceration rates, wealth status are likely to be in your list. Australia's history has been fraught with misdeeds against aboriginals. In the mid 1900s young children were removed from their parents in a gross act of paternalism - They are referred to in Australia as the stolen generation and a past Prime Minister provided a formal apology and compensation. In our early history our treatment and displacement was typical of European colonialism with episodes of cruelty and effective slavery.

Today Australia is attempting to bridge the gap. Health and education with dedicated resources for aboriginal groups are free but aboriginals remain well behind in health and socioeconomic status. Part of the issue is the remoteness of the demographic, and another is the needed balance between self-determination and direct action. The issues are far more substantial and complex but I don't wish to stray off topic.

 

[ken777]

I can only reflect the statements made by aboriginal leaders. The returning of aboriginal remains isn't a mere gesture, it is of considerable spiritual importance. His mob were particularly aggrieved that his remains, remained within museums when they should rest in his ancestral grounds and allow his spirit to wander the lands of his birth. It is core to their spiritual beliefs that date back 40,000 plus years.

This also marked a different approach in anthropology which is recognised by aboriginal communities as invaluable to their own historical understanding, but is now done in partnership and with respect to the traditions of the traditional owners of the land.

As for the "plight"? I think I can guess some of the things you refer to - Health status, incarceration rates, wealth status are likely to be in your list. Australia's history has been fraught with misdeeds against aboriginals. In the mid 1900s young children were removed from their parents in a gross act of paternalism - They are referred to in Australia as the stolen generation and a past Prime Minister provided a formal apology and compensation. In our early history our treatment and displacement was typical of European colonialism with episodes of cruelty and effective slavery.

Today Australia is attempting to bridge the gap. Health and education with dedicated resources for aboriginal groups are free but aboriginals remain well behind in health and socioeconomic status. Part of the issue is the remoteness of the demographic, and another is the needed balance between self-determination and direct action. The issues are far more substantial and complex but I don't wish to stray off topic.

It is the focus of attention on feeling victimized that helps prevent greater progress in quality of life for Aboriginal people. When Aboriginal leaders such as Jacinta Price and Noel Pearson make this point they are often criticized.

When some thing contributes nothing towards improved conditions, it is a gesture ... a nice one perhaps, but still only a gesture.

"While this national crisis continues, too many indigenous activists and their political supporters, especially in the big cities, are preoccupied with symbolic issues such as constitutional recognition or shifting Australia Day." (The Australian, Feb 13, 2018)

 

[Chesterton]

...done in a manner that respects traditional peoples of that land.

Big fan of tradition, are you?

 

[Zoii]

It is the focus of attention on feeling victimized that helps prevent greater progress in quality of life for Aboriginal people. When Aboriginal leaders such as Jacinta Price and Noel Pearson make this point they are often criticized.

When some thing contributes nothing towards improved conditions, it is a gesture ... a nice one perhaps, but still only a gesture.

"While this national crisis continues, too many indigenous activists and their political supporters, especially in the big cities, are preoccupied with symbolic issues such as constitutional recognition or shifting Australia Day." (The Australian, Feb 13, 2018)

You raised some interesting points. Can you expand on what you mean about Noel Pearson's views?