The name is absent

282

at least, must employ Europeans and provide salaries and housing
for them,and consequently incur expense. By the Mob’s own choice
their ow^,n housing remains at a low level. They opt instead to
provide from their resources for housing for white staff,because
schooling is the highest priority.

People must be educated in the Law, and individuals made

members of the group by going through the ’business’. The Mob
№

must provide for the expenses of ceremonies where large numbers
of people aggregate for a long period and need food no longer readily
provided by hunting.
t

The people make great personal sacrifices to maintain their

autonomy. Nevertheless, this autonomy is dependent on their economic
viability. Itfhile they are beginning to gain income from their

station ventures, to a large extent, the Mob remains dependent on
grants of various sorts: social welfare benefits, Aboriginal

Education grants, grants made by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs,
Schools Commission grants, support from the Nomads Foundation.

The continuation of many of these grants, and hence the economic
viability of the group, depends on government policy and the
interpretation of government policy by those appointed to administer
it.

The marrngu believe that the Western Australia Government is
making it very difficult for Aborigines to lease stations. They also
believe that the Government will look to ways of decreasing support -
a belief that is not without foundation. A newspaper report in
November, 1982, referred to the possibility of withholding
social security benefits from Aborigines in Western Australia.

Economic viability will continue to rest on a fragile, uncertain

base for some time to come.

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