The name is absent

206

have been miners. It is resisted because the influx of fortune-
seekers destroys the people’s way of life and destroys the sacredness
of their ’vehicles' of religion.

There is a constant theorizing about the importance of the family,
of kinship groupings, of avoidance relations . The very construction
of the school-age classes and adult classes, in a manner in which
people are not brought into 'wrong' relationships, is evidence of
a theorizing about how to manage the traditional relationships in
a non-traditional area.

13.4 Theorizing about protection of structures - rejection of
alien theorizing

Some of the theorizing is concerned with the protection of existing
structures through a fight against alien, encroaching structures
that threaten the integrity of the evolving model of Aboriginal life.
Various components of white society can be identified as the 'enemy'.

Theorizing against a force is a powerful unifier. The countering

of heresies is well known as a source of unity both for those rejecting
the heresy, and those rejected. Similarly the Mob is able to pronounce:

This is what we say: the mission has failed, the
government failed. Their time is finished. It
is our turn now (Mikurrunya 28.11.79).

The denunciation of the enemy is seen in attacks against the
government:

The government said it will help with the young
people, teach them to work for the community. But
what happened? You let the government in and the
young people go rotten. Every time. We have
seen it all around (Mikurrunya, 28.11.79). But
they told him (Debelie, Law Reform Commission)
the story of how the Western Australian Government
and White-fellas are breaking the Aboriginal people
and making their Law weak (Mikurrunya, 6.4.81).

White advisers from the Government are rejected: Advisers are
ɪ Mikurrunya 6.4.81. Report to Law Commission on Strength of
Law concerning marriage; on the proper education of young people.

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