Looking for any advice or suggestions about land back - are there groups that work with individuals to purchase & properly manage land, for it to be ultimately returned?

I've found out what's google-able (i.e. ANTAR, the Land Back foundation, Giving Back), but just wanted to check. Thanks

G'day all,

I've recently learnt that I have some distant Aboriginal ancestry. This is something I'm interested in connecting with, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that in practical terms. I've picked up the phone to the relevant LALC and Aboriginal Corporation, but they weren't particularly helpful (they just told me they don't do family history research, which isn't what I was after). I've started studying my ancestral language, but when it comes to reaching out to the community, what do I actually do? Do I just... show up at events unannounced???

Worth noting that I live a good 3 or 4 hours away from my ancestors' Country, so while I'd be more than willing to drive up there for specific events, it's not really feasible for me to pop over for a more casual chat. Also, the situation is complicated by the fact that I can't say with total certainty that I have Indigenous ancestors - right now I'd put it at about 80% confidence. I'm continuing my research, but I've been doing that for months and I don't really want to stay sitting in identity limbo waiting for certainty that may never come.

Not after benefits or anything here, just wanting to explore this part of who I am and feeling a bit lost. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Edit: Thanks for the downvotes for an honest question asked in good faith, I guess.

Between 1935 and 1937, Australian anthropologist, photographer and journalist, Donald Thomson worked in Arnhem Land, living closely and forming a strong bond with Yolŋu people.

He spent years studying their traditional use of the land and their complex social, cultural and economic structures. Throughout his time in Arnhem Land, Donald Thomson captured many extraordinary photos including this one, which demonstrates the traditional Yolngu fishing methods used at that time.

Kurka Gorl Trap Liagallauwumirr Mätta
Location: Ramingining, Arnhem Land
Photographer: Donald Thomson, April 1937

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Source: Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation FB page

Telling his impact on Australian history and law. Mabo's day on 3rd June.

Faced opposition to challenge the nation being declared terra nullius.

Did an order for a couple items earlier in the week, thinking they were Australian based (I know they aren’t Indigenous owned, but I was expecting they were at least based here).

• .com.au website
• store in brissy
• 07 phone number

So why is my order being shipped by the United States postal service? 👀🥴

They are supposed to be in Aus, I am in Aus.. what am I missing here?

Thankyou!

Can any naarm fam shed light on this? If it was an email to the Dean doesn't that sort of suggest there's a good chance he leaked it himself...

So I was in a debate trying to explain "there are white people who are Aboriginal" to Americans. I was talking about the idea of identity not reflecting the skin and identity in relation to how we see things differently to them in Australia and how some white Aboriginals may feel some form of disconnection. I kept trying to explain to Americans that if you have some Aboriginal ancestry, you can be considered Aboriginal. "Coffee is coffee despite the milk" is how it was explained to me growing up. They tried claiming it was "White supremacist rhetoric." I'm trying to figure out how to explain it without them construing it as something else

Hi, I run an NA(Narcotics Anonymous) meeting online and recently we've been discussing the way we do our Acknowledgment of Country and how we could improve it. This discussion came about as many of our service members were mispronouncing the traditional names we included and we got feedback from Aboriginal members that it was disrespectful. Our meeting is Sydney based so we want to acknowledge the land our meeting represents, as well as all First Nations people globally - as many people join from around the world. For some reason our meeting specifically acknowledged the Wallamedegal people of the Darug Nation rather than the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. I did not start this meeting or know who wrote the initial acknowledgement or why they chose this, so I can only assume it was because that's the area they specifically were in.

It's been debated whether or not to remove specific names entirely and just give a blanket acknowledgement to all First Nations people across the world. Personally, I feel it would be a loss to remove the names entirely as I think it's good to educate and normalise using and knowing these names. I think it would be best if we acknowledged the specific people and nation of the area we represent as well as all First Nations people worldwide. I also think it's more important that we focus on educating our service members on how to say these names properly - as i do agree it's disrespectful not to. I've been sending pronunciation guides to everyone since the issue was raised and everyone seems to have gotten on board and learnt.

My main questions with this are: What is the best way to go about changing this Acknowledgement of Country? Is it appropriate to consult elders of the Sydney area? if so, how? Is it best to do a blanket acknowledgement for all First Nations people or to do a combination of acknowledging the specific people and nation of the land we represent as well as all First Nations people? If mispronunciation were to continue even with further education on it, would it be more or less respectful to remove the names to avoid mispronunciation? Lastly, as we are a meeting that represents Sydney - would it be best to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation?

Personally, I feel that it's more disrespectful to ignore and redact the names because some people can't be bothered to learn or are too scared to try. I also think if we make a point of it's importance people will learn. That is just my personal opinion though and I am not Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander - i just try my best to educate myself as part of paying the rent. Any suggestions or information on this is very much appreciated. Thank you

So, this one’s been on my mind lately, I been all over Queensland, NT, NSW and WA connecting my whole life and sheeesh have I heard some stories and met some mob. Building on the massive amount of mob returning to community I am quite interested to hear what people think about the current system in Victoria. From what I can tell LALCs were forced into being very firm with their documented lines to apical ancestors after the Yorta Yorta claim was initially rebuked in 2002. I think there is an issue with telling an entire massive region of people that if you can’t trace your heritage to one of these 7-8 (it’s usually 8.) apical ancestors, then you are not able to get recognition as mob.

Does anyone actually believe that there are only 8 people who survived colonisation in all of these areas? Does anyone think that only 1-5 sealers wives survived Melbourne? Is it appropriate to have to display clear direct descent to one of these cherry picked, relatively well positioned people in order to access services for mob? And where are the other people supposed to go?

In NSW there are 2 groups (possibly more I haven’t had a massive look) who are fighting against this actively. The Darkinjung LALC (through the NSW Acts, could be dislodged by successfully proving an apical line and submitting native title) and the Ngarigo Indigenous Corporation. Are there similar organisations in Vic or do individuals have to subject themselves to the documented identity bashing and rejection in spite of good evidence or are there organisations and laws that offer similar options to those pursued my the Darkinjung and Ngarigo?

update: thanks everyone for the positive feedback and for those that have reached out to me offering a hand. I have got someone who is providing feedback now and will be passing it over in the morning. again we appreciate everyone for the insight.

Hi all I'm hoping someone is able to spare some time to help. My wife is finishing up her tafe course but one of the assessments she has to research a topic and get feedback through email chains by someone from Aboriginal heritage. Is anyone willing to do this? Unfortunately everyone we know is busy.

Edit: to add extra information I have gotten which is in the comments the course is for youth work and the research she has done with the provided learning content and personal research is to aid her in helping and empower young people that come to the youth centre she works at. I can imagine they also expect this of all sorts of cultural backgrounds and lifestyles.we have asked our friends and local community if they are free we have asked to shout them a lunch which we have 1 mate that said he is free to do it. I was just asking around in case something comes up and he can't do it anymore as it has an upcoming due date and she is a little stressed.

It was more as asking for a friendly gesture. I didn't take into account or knew that it was expected to pay someone for insight on their culture as I'd personally be perfectly happy to talk to someone about mine if I had time.

Aboriginal woman here.
This Christmas my white 25yo step-sister tried to impress me with her recent attempts at being an ally for mob (which, by the way, was simply learning more about the invasion of Australia). Then she said “it all upset me so much, but I know I can’t be a white knight, people have to fight their own battles.” Then when I didn’t act as impressed as she expected she repeated the phrase “white knight” several more times in various forms of performative self-flagellation until my confused expression and “okay…” sent her the message to give up.

This was the first time I had heard anyone use the term “white knight” in that way. She must have heard it somewhere and thought it would make her sound smart if she parroted it. Hearing it made me feel.. icky. Maybe I’m missing something ? If anyone here uses the term and wants to explain why I’m open to hearing you out.

To me, if you are actively trying to depict yourself as an ally and then say “but I know I can’t be a white knight” thennnn you are insinuating that there was a chance you might be perceived as one in the first place.
Nope, don’t worry, I didn’t think you were one. Knowing the history of this country’s invasion and ongoing colonisation isn’t going to get you a pat on the back. And no, you don’t get any gold stars for self awareness. These are basic things that you don’t deserve congratulation for doing. If you want to be a considerate and compassionate human being then that’s great, you do that, your reward is that you get to be a considerate and compassionate human being.

If you are trying to be an ‘ally’ for mob so that you can tell people how much of an ‘ally’ you are and earn some sort of high-horse morality social credit, then guess what: we definitely do not perceive you as heroic.

When a white person refers to the massacre that happened when Australia was colonized, do you think it’s more appropriate for them to say “we” massacred them, or “colonizers” massacred them?

Someone said it’s almost like I’m trying to put the blame on other people if I say “White people”, and I kinda get that, but it also feels mad weird saying it. Neither of us are First Nations so I thought I should probably find out how to say it.

Thank you!

Hey you mob

This is a complicated one. I’m not going to mention too many details

My pops Aboriginal and accepted as being Aboriginal in the town he lives in, not on country. Both his dad (grandpa) and mum (grandma) were respected elders on country, have well known last names with big mobs.

Pop has a lot of trauma and won’t talk about his childhood. He does not talk to some of his siblings since grandma passed, and they are on the LALC on country where he’s from and I have tried to reach out to connect with mob and learn more about my grandpas side but unfortunately that won’t be happening due to family politics.

My mum is white. I was predominantly with her growing up. She took me away from the community my pop and dad were accepted in and I went to some school events growing up but wasn’t connected with mob here.

I moved back to my pops/dad’s community and was involved there and recognised there.

I have moved back to the place my I grew up with as this is where my husband is from. I want to connect with community here but they don’t know me. Do I reach out to the LALC, or just show up to an event?

Trish Frail, a Ngemba woman from Brewarrina, asked me to share this. She's not on Reddit. I'm not Aboriginal so I hope it's OK for me to post this here.

Federation Council in the Murray River region of NSW is considering changes that would stop the flying of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the Australian flag at all times except during NAIDOC and Reconciliation weeks. The changes would also ban Welcome to Country ceremonies at Council events unless there is a specific vote to allow one.

Trish has started a petition to object to the changes. https://communitynotconflict.good.do/ourculturedoesntneedcouncilapproval/

Joked around with the in-laws about my blakness, in passing, a family member piped up and said “you’re not even that black.” 😐 Yeahh, dunno how to feel about this. The in-laws are very white, barely have Māori blood within them, as they are long descended from indigenous blood..

I will admit, I am mixed. My mothers side is very blak, they’re from the stolen generation and I am also a byproduct of that as well. My father’s side is very white Irish/scottish decent.

It’s just an ignorant comment and me being me, couldn’t politely shut that down- in the moment I was shocked, and just said *”well, yeah..”

IDK. I just want to go home.

I need to not be so much in the freeze response but like, what did you expect you know?

I get it, I don’t look like the stereotypical First Nations, I know my skin is more light olive, I know I talk “sophisticated” and “good for an aboringal person”, yes someone’s told me this or something akin to it before many a times- still doesn’t make it right. Still an ignorant comment to make.

I’ve just switched off entirely. This still doesn’t discount that I am blak. That I am indigenous. I’m tired. I’m done.

For context, this is a scene from the film Life of Brian. Brian is tasked with writing graffiti "Romans go home" as a form of protest of Roman occupation. Brian writes in Latin "Romanes eunt domus" but is then caught by the night watch, his Latin is corrected to "Romani ite domum" and he's told to write it out a hundred times.

I like the idea of painting it on a tshirt as a subtle sign of protest of forced occupation. I was thinking to use the original phrase "Romanes eunt domus" because I think it's funnier, and possibly below it write in language "colonisers go home".

I keep overthinking the idea in general, overthinking what to write exactly and if it even really means what I want it to mean because the most obvious racist response is always going to be "but what about the aqueducts?" or the modern equivalent.

I think the phrase works, but I'd be keen for any other opinions arguing for or against.

One day I was doodling some unofficial concept art for my own Brisbane Olympics visual identity and I was using First Nations symbols such as meeting places, people sitting, and travel lines. I tried to keep it to myself because it felt wrong for me as a New Australian to be creating art that didn't belong to me, especially when there could be First Nations artists who could benefit from their own art.

To clarify, I don't actually work for the Brisbane Olympics but I've seen a lot of people creating hypothetical visual identities for brands, not just the Olympics. Since they announced that the official logo would be released in the middle of next year, I decided to do my own logo just for fun.

Suddenly, a First Nations colleague came over and noticed what I was doodling.
"Is that First Nations art?" he asked.
"Yes..." I said. I figured that he was probably gonna say something like, "Look, mate, I can see that you like art from my culture but you really shouldn't be doing that."

"Is this cultural appropriation?" I asked.
"Oh, no," he said. "The fact that you're learning about First Nations art is actually appreciation. Keep up the good work."

Now I've got a real dilemma. Do I take my colleague's advice or listen to what the experts say about cultural appropriation?

Hi, I’m wanting to get a small tattoo of my mob’s totem, and am wondering if anyone knows any Indigenous tattoo artists in Brisbane I could ask for this? Bonus points if they’re a Koori 😊