The elemental composition of survival

1
The elemental composition of survival and
Advancement Dreamtime pride to an Anomie
vacuum Shame dysfunctional insularity

Current best practice Pride in Knowing true
cultural foundation assists in balancing identity
in two worlds
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I know you wonder why the "Abos'" get so
much once we could sing and dance and fly, man
you're really out of touch we seen the white man
comin, all ran down to say g'day but he used his
guns an know-all eye, blew lots of us away We
fought with spear and stealth to save our sacred
ground you took away our health and turned our
life around I know you wonder why we seem to've
fallen by the way - our families were torn apart!
we've seen some stinking days The life we led
seemed clear to us but progress had to come you
say it's best for all mankind but proof you show
us none the Earth is sick from cleverness! The
oceans a rubbish bin! We did not treat the earth
like this! old people say this is sin! I know you
wonder why we didn't like to do your dirty work?
we lost sweat and blood and pride an you got all
the perks! and yet you all complain that life and
work is tough let me tell you from your sacred
book you ain't had it rough Now our young ones
follow you and want to own things too
possessions many and greed abounds.. still, can't
take it with you and when you die and nourish the
earth you'll be just like me your color and pride
will wither away with luck you'll feed a tree You
wonder why I'm angry? you wonder why I'm pissed?
I lived with the spirit of the "goddammed" land
and you don't think she's missed? so please
excuse my forthrightness and please excuse my
brass but you would get a little angry too if you
had to take it up the a! not once! not twice
but a hundred times! till you think life's gone
for good - You want me to live the English way!
do you really think I should? An then your
family's gone-dying on the ground-writhing around
in mortal pain got in the road of a new
campaign-strip the land! For our stock! we won't
let Her beat us! C'mon you darkies! give us a
hand? "No! no!! they cried please don't do it
She is all our Mothers rolled into one - we
don't have to worry life can be fun"... so they
pulled out their guns an we all run!! An they
run to the waters and they run to the sea an they
run to the places where the other don't go an
they run to the mountains an they run to the
hills an sometimes they made good sport for the
kill . Oh yes our life was easy oh yes our life
was full, not like now! wine on the breath mouths
all full of bull well thats what you wanted
wasn't it? that's what we thought! that's what
we saw! treat each other like things we'd
bought yeah! you got the power you got the rules!
don't play up! go to school! don't do this an
don't do that! keep doin nothin till our
spirit's big an fat an you still wonder why?

3
Filling the anomie vacuum
Nature abhors a vacuum and spaces will be filled
with something! Enter crime, drugs, gambling,
violence, self-harm etc etc
4
Why the sense of anomie?

• Government/Colonial philosophical policy of
  degrading/outlawing culture
• Traditional religion perceived as heathen
• Dont look me in the eye (cultural
  protocol-respect
• but - also youre an animal not my equal)
• Parents in laboring/menial employment less or no
  wages for work
• Physical attributes opposite of desirable
  mainstream European ideal (beautiful)
• Cultural legacies difficult to overcome in
  contemporary society

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• Shame from believing English Colonial
  perceptions
• Not as good as whites
• If they be considered as a nation, whose general
  advancement and acquisitions are to be weighed,
  they certainly rank very low, even in the scale
  of savages.
• (Captain Watkin Tench, Complete Account of the
  Settlement at Port Jackson, in New South Wales,
  London, 1793, p. 187.)
• No power!
• No say in own lives!
• Always need help to live let alone compete
  in alien society
• Old and stable religion savage heathen!
• (cornerstone of racial pride)
• Physical attributes!
• "The Native Blacks are I think the ugliest race I
  ever beheld," Ann Gore informed a friend back in
  England. George Worgan, a surgeon with the First
  Fleet, found it difficult "to touch one of them,
  for they are Ugly to Disgust."
• "The aborigines of New South Wales are the
  ugliest race of beings conceivable," declared the
  merchant Edward Lucett "some monkies I have seen
  might feel injured by a comparison." Compounding
  Britons' disgust was what seemed a repulsive lack
  of hygiene.

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• Years ago
• 60,000 - Humans reach Australia
• 50,00 - Humans in Arnhem Land, Lake Mungo, NSW
• 38,000 - Western Australia
• 37,000 - Nth Queensland
• 35,000 - Tasmania
• 32,000 - Cape York
• 20,000 - people living all over Australia,
  Megafauna still present
• 10,000 - Worlds oldest returning boomerangs used
  SA
• 4,680 - Great pyramids built in Egypt
• 4,000 - Specialised small tools used, Dingo
  arrives
• 2,000 - fishing lines used, Jesus is born
• 800 - Aborigines build stone houses
  semi-permanent villages
• 218 - Cook sails East coast Australia
• 205 - First settlers arrive Sydney Cove

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Problem Dreamtime pride to Anomie Shame
dysfunctional insularity (from early childhood
looking inward at what are commonly known as
dysfunctional problems in self, direct family,
extended family - then Community problems no
chance to see there is a world That we equally
can be part of if we learn the Language). Basic
solution Learn/taught historical traditional
truths Utilise truths in building racial pride
Individual Knowing and balancing Identity in
two worlds. Outcome strong future Aboriginal
Australians!
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• Savage heathens?
• Not so with the Aborigines of Australia. We build
  no place of worship, neither do we erect altars
  for the offering of sacrifice, but,
  not-withstanding this lack of religious
  ceremonies, we believe in a Great Spirit and the
  Son of the Great Spirit. There arose among the
  Aborigines a great teacher, Narroondarie he was
  an elect of the Great Spirit.
• And he spoke to our forefathers thus 'Children,
  there is a Great Spirit above whose
  dwelling-place is Wyerriewarr. It is His will
  that YOU should know Him as Hyarrinumb I am the
  Whole Spirit and ye are part of the whole, I am
  Your Provider and Protector. It has been my
  pleasure to give You the privilege to sojourn
  awhile in the flesh state to fulfil my great
  plan. Remember (porun) children (nukone illawin)
  your life is like unto a day, and during this
  short period on earth you are to educate Yourself
  by your conduct to Yourself as a part of Myself
  and your conduct to others, with the knowledge
  that they are part of Myself
• Live as children of your Great Father. Nol kal
  undutch me wee (control your appetites and
  desires). Remember never allow yourself to become
  slave to your appetite or desire, never allow
  your mind to suffer pain or fear, lest you become
  selfish, and selfishness causes misery to
  yourself, your wife and children and relations,
  and those with whom you come into contact.
  Selfishness is not of the Great Spirit. Cultivate
  everything good, moderation in food and pleasure,
  be generous to others, develop a healthy state of
  mind and body. Body and mind governed by good and
  pure morals with kindness for others, remembering
  that they are a part of that Great Spirit from
  whence you came..

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Does it work?
Staff Cairns X 2 - X 1 school Brisbane X 1 - X 4
schools Rockhampton X 1 - X 1 school Townsville X
1 - X 1 school Staff support holistic with
daily/regular face to face contact Advocate for
student explain issues from school POV Arrange
week-end home stay Arrange specific tutoring and
career guidance Maintain relationships with all
relevant orgs/staff/persons
Years with HEP 4 X 2.5 15 X 1.5 3 X
.5 1 X completed edu and working
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Higher Expectations Scholarship Program Began
January 2005 23 active students _at_ 7 partner
boarding schools 5 for 2.5 years 18 for
1.5
13 withdrawn attitude/disciplinary reasons 2008
8 partner schools 40 participants
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The socialisation process involves teaching
children and adults the language, values and
acceptable behavior to become an effective
participant in their respective societies WH
Stanner
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• The future
• Aboriginal people have survived 50,000
• years in harshest environment in world
• 200 years of culture shock/change
• The present is harsh reality
• we are producing professionals in all areas
• The future is bright!
• Thanks to the adaptive Aboriginal culture and our
  youth
• regaining a racial confidence
• One thing we can all do
• Change the perception of Alcohol all around the
  World
• it is a drug like any other!
• It is a lucrative lie that degrades low
  socio-economic
• groups and youth everywhere!

13
A Dream is a goal that a person aspires to
achieve, and once accomplished, I imagine the
feeling is beyond belief, as dreams are usually
difficult to attain.  I dream of someday
attending university and being a success in my
chosen occupation.  Since receiving the Higher
Expectations Program scholarship early this year,
I feel the sudden urge to succeed in life, in
order to prove myself, and perhaps be an
inspiration to others to do the same.  I have
also come to realise that as a recipient of this
scholarship Im now embarking on a journey that
will lead to the living of my dream.
Written by HEP participant Wednesday 23 August
2006 7.09pm