This extensive compilation with comprehensive index represents two decades of personal research on Indigenous culture and spirituality. It analyses group identity and seeks to highlight the fundamental building blocks or ‘essence’ of Aboriginal well-being. The author extracts the critical issues faced by Indigenous communities and relates these to mainstream behavioural norms by drawing on the writings of Pearson, Sutton, Langton, Johns and many others, as well as comparing the values of globally dominant theologies with Aboriginal customs and values.
In the contemporary era of political correctness, the ground-breaking marshalling of the author’s evidence may be provocative, but this re-focussed insight may offer a clearer map of new worldviews. The author deplores the historic injustices that dispossessed Australia’s first people but warns against the self-defeatism of modern martyrism.
The author’s tough thinking on tribalism, the perpetuation of inappropriate cultural values and starry-eyed idealism on separatism may challenge the traditional purists. Similarly, this honest incisive debate on norms will expose bad behaviour for what it is.
Once Need and not Race is accepted as the basis for individual support, pride can return to Indigenous citizens: ‘No progress will be made with National Indigenous Policy before objectives and principles are agreed to and laid down.