The name is absent

404

A sense of a lack of knowledge of what the futurfe holds, a
feeling of inability to predict what the next few steps will be,
is often articulated by Aboriginal people. Often this ’lack of future-

orientation' is advanced by the white world as a reason for

Aborigines being 'wasteful with money', unable to plan ahead,

unable to see ahead. The following statements addressed the

perception of the ability to predict the future.

24.21 Cii)

(a) Hypothesis

It was hypothesized that Aborigines would be present-oriented,

unable to see where their future lies’, unwilling to work now for
benefits that may never come.

24.21 Cii)
CbJ

TABLE 31

A
*

1
I

*

*
f

1

1

I

Comparison of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal response
to Statements 38 and 45 - prediction of future

^Agree Aeree ^Not Disaeree ^oisaS^{ree orit}Y
strongly ^g sure ^g strongly support

Statement

38. I can't see where
my future is, or what
will happen to me

Aboriginal response (N=93) 6.6

Non-Aboriginal             ₁₉ _

response          (N=289)

(disagree)

19.8   41.8 26.4    5.5     31.9

31.1   31.4 19.8    5.5     43.4

(agree)