tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post7062823517919696640..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Andrew Forrest's 50,000 indigenous jobsJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-38737361317955134732008-08-06T06:23:00.000+10:002008-08-06T06:23:00.000+10:00I can see where you are coming from APR, but Austr...I can see where you are coming from APR, but Australia's indigenous peoples were never a sovereign people - singular - in the sense that you appear to be using the word. The very idea of "the Australian Aborigines" is a European construct.<BR/><BR/>At a macro level, I have tried to argue on this blog that current approaches have failed in part because we fail to recognise that diversity.<BR/><BR/>At micro level, I have been concerned that basic information about individual language groups - I use this term to cover not just languages but the culture and history associated with individual peoples - is simply not available. So to a degree neither Aborigines nor those interested in the broader community can find out about present and past at local and regional levels.<BR/><BR/>Forrest's approach has the advantage that it does try to address one aspect of indigenous disadvantage - lack of jobs. One side-effect may be, as you imply, a further break down in specific communities in specific areas as people leave.<BR/><BR/>However, this is not just an indigenous problem, but also a subset of another broader problem, population and economic decline in parts of country Australia. This feeds into indigenous difficulties because it reduces the broader pool of jobs and of services in specific areas.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-22337142262840437072008-08-05T23:30:00.000+10:002008-08-05T23:30:00.000+10:00I think the idea may have some merit, but it is st...I think the idea may have some merit, but it is still based in a colonial philosophy that aims to train and teach aboriginal peoples a different way of life. To some extent it is another assimilation policy aimed at acculturating the aboriginal people to the point where they will no longer have to be dealt with as a sovereign people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-41588768847768808922008-08-04T21:58:00.000+10:002008-08-04T21:58:00.000+10:00Hi Stephen. You well captured my point.Hi Stephen. You well captured my point.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-39491720683023005712008-08-04T21:05:00.000+10:002008-08-04T21:05:00.000+10:00Frankly, given the state of some of the area, even...Frankly, given the state of some of the area, even 100 jobs would be good. 10,000 would make a very substantial difference to the areas.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12313654412368227280noreply@blogger.com