The importance of the Aboriginal community solving its own
problems that is, of exercising autonomy, was stressed by the
Aboriginal people.
1.2S Aboriginal identity
All these issues were seen by those interviewed as allied
in some way to the construction of an Aboriginal identity.
The concern of Aboriginal people about identity and the place
<
they see it holding in the construction of a stable social structure
for them is well expressed by Mrs. Glad Elphick, an elderly Aboriginal
lady brought up on a reserve:
...The'question of Aboriginal identity has emerged
as a crucial issue.
...Aborigines are members of a subcultural group
that is often subject to hostile prejudice and
rejection by people in the wider society - by non-
Aborigines. This leads to confusion and conflict
over their identity. It is felt that the disturbance
of the identification process among many Aborigines
results in personality difficulties, and that many
problems (for example, those relevant to liquor-
drinking and to unemployment) are symptomatic of
this, helping to build up a picture of instability,
inconsistency and insecurity which is too often associated
with people of Aboriginal descent (Elphick, 1971:104-105).
In Auntie Glad’s words, the crucial issue was the question of
Aboriginal identity. The ’problem* had become clear. It was
one of identity-formation for Aboriginal people.
The question now to be asked was whether or not previous
research had addressed this problem. In the remainder of this
chapter,research relating to Aboriginal identity will be examined
seeking insights for the further refining of the problem to
be addressed.