Australia's 'first people.'

[Fern]

If any people need and deserve recognition as the Australian nation's First People', it's the Aborigines. As a race they have/were certainly ostracised.
This from ABC news.

Australian PM Tony Abbott has vowed to "sweat blood" to secure constitutional recognition for indigenous people, saying he wants a referendum in 2017.
But Mr Abbott said he would not rush with the date until he was confident the referendum would succeed.
To be passed, the change must be backed by a majority of people in a majority of Australia's six states.
The constitution currently does not recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the nation's first people.
Unlike in other nations settled by Europeans, such as Canada and New Zealand, Australia's constitution does not mention indigenous people.
In the past few years, there have been discussions about recognising them in a preamble to the constitution, and about changing the main part of the constitution to include a section that outlaws racial discrimination.
Aboriginal Australians represent about 2.5% of Australia's 24 million people. Generations of discrimination and disadvantage have left them with poor health and low levels of education and employment.

 

[drifter]

Hi Fern, I'm hoping your government does the right thing by your original Peoples. I've been reading about the important DNA studies that have been going on in Europe, the United States, and Australia. Ixt is pointing to a history we have not known about. I also have been looking into some Aboriginal writings and poetry, such s the afollowing:

It is true that Noonuccal’s poetry is uneven, as a result of metre which occasionally jars, and rhyme which is sometimes forced. The point is that these are technical failings which have no bearing on the question of whether or not the poetry is allegedly propagandistic (which is an implicitly pejorative term in the first place). What can be said is that some of Noonuccal’s most successful verse has a clear and strong socio-political message:

No more woomera, no more boomerang,
No more playabout, no more the old ways.
Children of nature we were then,
No clocks hurrying crowds to toil.
Now I am civilized and work in the white way,
Now I have dress, now I have shoes:
‘Isn’t she lucky to have a good job!’
Better when I had only a dillybag.
Better when I had nothing but happiness.


​

In addition, I contend that, despite the technical weaknesses in much of Noonuccal’s rhymed poetry in We Are Going, her free verse is often impressive in its directness and poignancy.

I have contacted an Australian lady who writes Bush Poetry to authinicate some of the Original Peoples poetry. We will find the Australian Aboriginals are related to some of the first peoples to leave Africa. I hope Sir Abbott lives up to his promises. Thankss for your post.

 

[Debby]

I think it's time for Australia to give those folks the recognition and support they deserve. Congrats to Tony Abbott on this score and hope the citizens of Australia have large and open hearts!

 

[Ameriscot]

I hope this goes through as well.

 

[SeaBreeze]

I'm hoping those in Australia do the right thing as well and give them their well deserved recognition. I will be disappointed if this didn't go through.

 

[AprilT]

In the mean time, hope the developing hostage situation resolves soon. So much crazy going on, sorry to see this affecting you all on top of everything else.

 

[Fern]

Hi Fern, I'm hoping your government does the right thing by your original Peoples. I've been reading about the important DNA studies that have been going on in Europe, the United States, and Australia. Ixt is pointing to a history we have not known about. I also have been looking into some Aboriginal writings and poetry, such s the afollowing:

It is true that Noonuccal’s poetry is uneven, as a result of metre which occasionally jars, and rhyme which is sometimes forced. The point is that these are technical failings which have no bearing on the question of whether or not the poetry is allegedly propagandistic (which is an implicitly pejorative term in the first place). What can be said is that some of Noonuccal’s most successful verse has a clear and strong socio-political message:

No more woomera, no more boomerang,
No more playabout, no more the old ways.
Children of nature we were then,
No clocks hurrying crowds to toil.
Now I am civilized and work in the white way,
Now I have dress, now I have shoes:
‘Isn’t she lucky to have a good job!’
Better when I had only a dillybag.
Better when I had nothing but happiness.


​

In addition, I contend that, despite the technical weaknesses in much of Noonuccal’s rhymed poetry in We Are Going, her free verse is often impressive in its directness and poignancy.

I have contacted an Australian lady who writes Bush Poetry to authinicate some of the Original Peoples poetry. We will find the Australian Aboriginals are related to some of the first peoples to leave Africa. I hope Sir Abbott lives up to his promises. Thankss for your post.

You are behind the times. Our government has been 'doing the right thing by our 'first people' for many years, billions of dollars have been paid out in 'compensation' for past 'grievances' plus 'giving back' thousands of acres of land not the least to say well established pine forests & successful business enterprises in lieu of, and and will continue to do so for many years yet, even though there is much doubt as to whether our 'first people' were the Maori.
There is the Treaty of Waitangi, a document which is recognised as the 'founding document' of New Zealand. How many 'invaded' countries in those times can attest to having a written treaty between the 2 sides.
The Maori language is recognised as an official language of NZ.
Just as well it was the British who 'invaded' first, France was right on their tail, things would have been a lot different for the Maori under a French flag.

 

[GDAD]