The name is absent

1.38 The Aboriginal voice: the social construction of identity

Rowley (1971:3840 points out that, since the sixties

The Aboriginal voice is now continuous. One
theme has been continuously repeated - that the
Aboriginal does not want to lose his Aboriginal
identity.

The Aboriginal perceives the problem of loss of identity.

However, the analysis by Aboriginal people of this problem goes
further than that of white researchers.

In personal statements made by Aboriginal people themselves,
there is a constant emphasis on the notion of the construction
of an Aboriginal identity, (Elphick, 1971; Gilbert, 1973, 1977;
⅛-
Perkins, 1975). Stewart (1976:26) speaks of ’’embarking upon a
long, difficult and in some cases a traumatic journey to establish
our identities”.

Anderson (in Tatz, 1975:19) projects a time when "Aboriginal
' people and Aboriginal teenagers [will] start grabbing hold of
their identity themselves".

The notion of the construction of Aboriginal identity recurs,
again and again in speeches and articles by Aborigines. It is
forcefully expressed by Grandfather Koori (in Gilbert, 1977:304-305).

Aboriginality, eh!

You build Aboriginality boy, or you got nothing!

1.39 The problem defined: the construction of Aboriginal identity

It is this felt need of seeking to establish components of
Aboriginal identity and to delineate the processes of 'establishing
identity', 'grabbing hold of identity’, 'building identity* which
will be taken up by the present study. It will focus on the social
construction (actual and possible) of Aboriginal identity, particularly
with reference to educational contexts.

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