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12.44 Autonomy and interaction with the Government
(i) Party politics
In the narrower sense of politics, that equated with party
politics, the people are very conscious of the need to distinguish
between party platforms, to vote iħ an informed way∖ The retaining
of political autonomy is seen as most important to the group. They
have been highly politically Conscientised since their strikes of the
1940s. In this respect they differ markedly from the Jigalong Mob
which Tonkinson (1974:112) reported as not accepting, in 1963, the
opportunity to vote in forthcoming state elections, fearing they
might vote, unknowingly, for someone who might be opposed to Aboriginal
law.
The interest of the Strelley Mob in State and Federal politics
stems from their desire to maintain their own political autonomy
within their group. They are well aware that despite their withdrawal
from white society they are subject to both the manifest and latent
functions of government policy-making.
A visitor involved in training Aboriginal teachers showed the
men a newspaper article with a photograph of an Aboriginal man from
the Warburton Ranges. The article praised the man’s prowess at football.
The visitor, motivated by great goodwill, put the young footballer
forward as someone with whom Aboriginal youth could identify, and
suggested the school set up a football oval and encourage the
sport.
ɪln the 1980 election of Western Australia, Peter Dowding, ALP,
(Legislative Council) and Ernie Bridge ALP5 (Legislative Assembly)
’’were well supported by Aboriginal voters because they promised to help
Aboriginals in their fights for land rights and self-management”
(Mikurrunya, Vol. 2, No. 1:4).
John Tozer, Liberal candidate for the Legislative Assembly was given
the following obituary; ’’John Tozer visited Strelley on the IOth February.
He said that the Liberal Party believed in one law for all people. He
said that some Aboriginal communities had the right to make by-laws to
control things like grog and fighting. However, this has to be done
using the whiteman’s legal system” (Mikurrunya, Vol. 2, No. 1:7).