465
The conclusion then reached is that, if Aboriginal people
are denied identity as Aboriginal Australians, they must turn
their exclusion from mainstream society to advantage by actively
implementing their theorizing about 'forming groups to get somewhere’.
The formation of such groups will provide a locus for the
construction of an Aboriginal identity.
The following parameters constraining the construction of
positive identity for Aboriginal people may be isolated:
, Nihilation of universe _______
Pre-1967 of meaning at the macro-
cosmic level
A history of nihilation by
the host society
Exclusion of Aboriginal
Post-1967 people from mainstream
society by policy-makers
---------Negative typification by
host society, but some
support for Aborigines to
-------7 form groups 'to get somewhere*
1
I
I
I
Positive recognition of
Aboriginal universe at the
macro-cosmic level; policies
of self-determination, self-
management; jobs
government agenc
provided in
ies
Acceptance in the micro-cosmic
world of education of
Aboriginal
meaning
universes of
----AcceptanceofAboriginal ’worlds’:
* in Schools Commission policy
* in State Education policy
* by schools staff
Positive self-image for
Aborigines
Belief in the value of
schooling
Strain towards self-
determination
Strain towards acceptance
of values of white world
FIGURE 6
Parameters for the construction of a positive identity
for Aboriginal people