The name is absent

302

The meaning of these names must be explained to the Aboriginal
people; very few have even a few words of the language of their
ancestors.

the name nunga is coming to be used fas

marmgu is used at Strelley) _ in an intuitive move towards an>

important element in securing identity, locating the self in a

*

world of meaning.

18.5 Identials
*

Identity, location in society, is secured not only by naming,
but by identials.

For the-Strelley people, identials are contexted into the
Law. The question to be asked is whether urban Aboriginal people
locate themselves in a world that has any identials that are
specifically Aboriginal.

' The identials of life history, physical characteristics,
possessions, religion, culture and employment, will now be examined.

18.51 Life-history

...people who live in a political and social vacuum
have got no future because they have no past. If
you can give these people a past you will give them
a future (Paul Coe, in Tatz, ed., 1975:107).

One’s life-history is seen by Aboriginal people as a most important
idential.

The life-history of the urban Aborigine does not necessarily
+

act to help the individual locate himself in society. Many an

Aboriginal person has no history. Often he has been taken away
*

from his parents by missionaries, or by the Department of Community
Welfare.

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