The name is absent

305

There is evidence that this is happening, both in Adelaide
and Pt. Augusta.
■

However, the difference must be noted between these two places
and Strelley. In the case of the latter, skin colour is a ’given’
neither a source of pride or shame. In the urban situation, -skin
colour is a problem to be resolved.

18.53 Possessions                     ^f

The urban Aborigine, like the white man, has no ^,guruwari^,.
≠

The loss of his connection with the land is related to a loss
of identity.

The Aborigine begs for land as his∙ possession:

One of the first things in identity is recognising
their right to land, their identity as human beings,
giving them status through land and allowing them       ^x

to own something (Gilbert, in Tatz, ed., 1975:9).

At Poonindie, in South Australia, Aboriginal people farmed with
great success (Jenkin, 1979:65-66). They, together with the Point
Pearce people and Point McLeay people, despite being able to point
to their achievements in farming operations, were denied the right
to own land (Jenkin, 1979:266ff.).

This policy of refusing Aborigines free-hold title to lands
they have farmed has continued to the present day, when successful
farmers ask for title deeds to their land, still withheld from
them.

In Queensland (2¾e Australian, 18.10.82) the Minister for
Commerce announced that Aborigines could not get freehold title to
land because the Government believed they could not handle money or
business transactions,
■r
The possession of land which people request, in these examples,
has the same significance as it does for white people. Hence, it is
equated with identity as a human being.

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