To be an aborigine or not to be an aborigine? That is the question...

So it seems that someone has finally kicked up a stink about the Tasmanian Government and how they define aboriginality.

For those who don´t know, Michael Mansell and all his white friends at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre are aboriginal, because they share a half dozen surnames of families that emerged from the sealing communities in Bass Strait.  All the other white people who aren´t friends with Michael DON¨T get to play aborigines and have to do their own thing.

Opening lines of the article:

Alan Wolf was an ATSIC regional councillor for six years and is currently a board member of federal Aboriginal languages body, Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages.  However, the State Office of Aboriginal Affairs (OOA) has denied Mr Wolf indigenous fishing rights on the grounds he is not an Aborigine. 

Mr Wolf is one of 440 people regarded as Aborigines by the Federal Government and federal courts, but not by the Tasmanian Government for the purpose of state programs. 

The State applies the same Aboriginality test as the Commonwealth but differently, making it harder for people without links to certain families and archival evidence to prove their ancestry.

What does all this mean?  Besides the good news that Michael Mansell and his white friends at the TAC will finally have to let other people play in their little ¨club¨ besides themselves?

Well the key part for me of all this is the concept of  ¨indigenous fishing rights¨.  Now in the Northern Territory that means that aborigines are able to kill turtles and dugongs (even when they´re severely endangered).  In Canada that means that the Inuit are able to kill bears and seals and whales (little ones) and baby fur seals.

What does this mean in Tasmania?  I don´t really have any idea, but I´m guessing it means much greater access to abalone and rock lobster fisheries, maybe to kill seals as well, although I haven´t heard of this actually happening.  And what do I think about the whole situation?

Well I´ve actually got no problem with it at all.  I think the Tasmanian aboriginal community should be allowed to access as much traditional lifestyle opportunities (whether fishing or hunting) as they want.

BUT

They should have to exercise their traditional fishing rights in their traditional manner.  No wetsuits, no masks, no snorkels, no scuba, no nets, no outboard motors, no rifles.

Go smother yourself in seal fat and go diving for abalone.  Or do the same thing as you swim out to sneak up on a seal lying in the sun and beat it´s head in with a club.  I´m cool with that.  

Just don´t use all the advantages of modern technology and then claim you´re exercising your indigenous rights, while fishing out of season, in protected areas or with fish that aren´t size.

cheers

Harry