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In the previous articles we saw that while is it wrong to say that Indigenous people make no contribution to their local economy, the monetary economy of remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory today is a false economy, almost entirely dependent on the injection…
Aboriginal Communities Archive
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On being income managed
Posted on November 3, 2011 | 3 CommentsAs the mother of a two and a half year old, on a low income with my partner, I am eligible to receive a Parenting Payment from Centrelink, our Australian Department of Human Services. As a family we highly value living simply on a low... -
Economics of Remote Aboriginal Communities Part 2 – Today’s Economy.
Posted on September 21, 2011 | 2 CommentsIn the previous article I discussed some of the historical influences on the economy in the remote Indigenous communities of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Briefly, it shows that Indigenous people have been moved from a position of traditional economic independence to a situation... -
Dhurili Nation Challenges Mining Lease Agreement in Court
Posted on June 7, 2011 | 3 CommentsDhurili Nation considers court action as Prime Minister celebrates historic agreement in Gove Peninsula, NT. The Dhurili Nation, comprising the Datiwuy, Golumala, Marrakulu and Marrangu clans have previously confirmed to the Northern Land Council and the Minister for Indigenous Affairs that they are lawful traditional... -
Living Dead: A Yolngu Experience of Disempowerment
Posted on August 31, 2010 | 3 CommentsThis is a short video that describes living as a Yolngu person in a remote community in Australia. It is a story that the rest of us rarely hear expressed so clearly. Dianne, the speaker in this video has found a degree of insight into... -
Cultural Spaces (An example of the Limit Conditions the people face)
Posted on April 11, 2010 | 3 CommentsAll cultures have spaces of ceremony and tradition, both sacred and part of every day life. We often don't see them within our own culture until we are taken out of our comfort zone and required to navigate them within another culture. We often don't see the impact strange cultural spaces can have on our person. When we do it helps us to understand the world that Indigenous people face daily. -
Understanding Indigenous “Poverty”- Making it History
Posted on January 26, 2010 | 7 CommentsIn recent times the word "poverty" has been used broadly to refer to the situation in many remote Indigenous Communities in Australia. But for most people poverty conjures images of the poor from 3rd world slums. The Indigenous peoples of Australia face very different situations. I think it is worth stepping back and considering what Indigenous "poverty" has in common with the situation of the worlds poor. What can this tell us about how so called "Indigenous poverty" can be overcome. -
Culture Shock 101
Posted on January 5, 2010 | 6 CommentsHaving moved to a remote Indigenous community about 4 months ago, my wife and I have recently started to go through the struggles of culture shock. In this article I take you through some of the causes, the symptoms and how to manage Culture Shock. The essential basics of surviving what can be the most difficult part of working in an remote Aborignal or Torres Strait Islander community in the first year. -
Recruiting, Training and Supporting Dominant Culture Personnel for Indigenous Communities
Posted on September 5, 2009 | 6 CommentsThe following is a Presentation I made to a ‘Roundtable’ discussion with TEAR Australia, in August 2009, discussing the needs and possibilities for supporting government and non-government personnel working in Aboriginal communities across Australia to improve community development outcomes for Indigenous people. What I am... -
Another Indigenous voice from Arnhem Land
Posted on February 26, 2009 | 7 CommentsHere is another statement from a Yolngu person from North East Arnhem Land. He speaks against the intervention,l but he is also referring to many other recent sudden changes in NT government policy such as the ceasing of funding to Home Land centres (or out-stations) and the closing of Home Land schools. Again the underlining concern is about the approach that came with the intervention that has lead to such broad brush decisions being made without prior consultation. If you are working with Indigenous people do not let ideologies control your decision making, find a way to understand the local people's real experience, knowledge, and situation. Yingiya is a excellent teacher and I think there is plenty to be learnt from his words about the experience and perspectives of the Yolngu people. -
A project in responsive development
Posted on February 23, 2009 | No CommentsWe are initiating a new project in developing human enterprise in NE Arnhem Land. This unique project has an entirely holistic approach, focusng on the facilitation of, well, everything - everything the people have a passion to achieve. By providing the resources to remove obstacles and enabling real, effective and people driven change, and by supporting the people in developing their own ideas and fulfilling their desires we will provide opportunity for change in remote Indigenous communities.