Indigenous Social Policies surrounding notions of Identity
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On every social and economic indicator, Aboriginal people have suffered as a result of non-indigenous settlement of Australia. Social policies surrounding indigenous Australians have been based on the perceived racial inferiority of them, fostering a need for the civilisation of a people (Bourke, 1994).
Fundamental to any separate set of social policies is a working definition of those people to whom it is meant to apply (Armitage, 1995. p 22). There are definitional concerns ranging from questions of what 'Aboriginality' is, to questions of descent and the problems that follow in attempting to classify Aboriginal peoples. Consequently, those classified as indigenous have often been placed outside the benefits of Australian law (Armitage, 1995. p 24), and have not been eligible for the same citizenship rights enjoyed by mainstream society (p 233). Broad social policies such as Protection Status (1860-1930) and Assimilation, (1930-1970) (and subsequent acts) have been control measures regulating all aspects of life for indigenous people, including who is and who is not considered Aboriginal (Armitage, 1995. p 17). Through a process of absorption, it has been presumed that Aboriginal identity can simply be destroyed via forced integration...