12.48 Autonomy-Summary
*
Within its own symbolic universe the Strelley Mob is the
dominant group. However, the relationship is changed when seen
from the point of view of Australian society as a whole. Strelley1S
autonomy is then seen as dependent upon a dialectic with other
’worlds’. But above all its autonomy is dependent upon the strength
of the model of the world it has constructed, which must be accepted
as viable by itself and by others, a model having the possibility
of confronting,as a real alternative,the ‘world’ of mainstream
society.
To a certain extent Strelley gains from its isolation. Its
alternative structures could be seen as a source of offence to
mainstream society if it were in sufficiently close contact to pose
a threat which must be suppressed, conceptually or physically.
For example, one could conceive that mainstream society in Port Hedland
would reflect the negative stereotypical attitudes found by
Wundersitz in Maitland (Wundersitz, 1979).
In point of fact, Strelley is close enough to Port Hedland to
cause -some of this apprehension, rejection and denigration. On the
other hand it is thousands of miles from the locus of policy-making
in Perth or Canberra.
Nevertheless, its contact by visit and radio with other Aboriginal
communities lead to the possibilities of greater cohesion among
Aboriginal people that cannot help but threaten a dominant society
which incorporates different values.
Those factors which contribute to the continuity of the group
will now be examined.
12.5 Factors of Continuityof a group
12.51 Inherent factors of continuity
Sorokin itemises the following factors of continuity:
(1) A fairly wide margin of potential variations which
meanings, values, norms possess without sacrificing
its identity