The name is absent

of the white attitudes reflected in the census definitions and
4

in government policy. They gave meaning to the situation as

implying that Aborigines were ontologically less than human;
economically they were less important than animals [Elphick, in
Gilbert, 1977:100). Politically, they were less than citizens.
Legally they had no rights and their protection was one that deprived
them of dignity and autonomy.

’Passing’ was a measure adopted to achieve

that of being ’treated like a human being’. Nevertheless, despite
the implication of being categorised as Aboriginal, some refused
to be ’exempted’ from this category [Perkins, 1975:55).

Those who were exempted came to be seen by other Aborigines
ч
as pseudo-whites who rejected their Aboriginality .
F
L
ɪ-
L
Ё
F

10.3 Development ,of a separate Aboriginal identity
к
ъ

Gale noted the beginnings of a search for identity among
к

Aborigines.

F

She pointed out [1972:48) that, during the sixties, Aborigines
і

increased in numbers, and, with their numerical increase they
developed a new consciousness of identity.
L
I
lɪ
к
h
I                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ≠

It was her view that this growth in the Aboriginal concept
÷

of separate identity sparked off administrative reactions,issuing
*

in the feverish opening of reserves in the sixties.
Γ
π

The administrative response provoked was thus one of continuing
nihilation. However, there were some Aborigines already physically
located within white society, already distanced from the reserve

situation.

For some of these people, the awakening sense of identity

promoted a withdrawal from the world of the dominant society as

This problem will be taken up again in Chapters XVIII and XXIII.

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