Are you of Indigenous descent/heritage? Plus q'ns ..

[Bountiful]

Thanks for your input everyone

Morri, that was only my guesstimation My sister has been able to qualify for Abstudy etc. so there is a blood link there, I just don't know that much about the exact origin of the link IYKWIM.

Thing is, for me, I would *like* to identify myself as Indigenous BUT I still feel like I'm a fraud because I've only just recently found out - if we had known when I was growing up I'd feel more comfortable about it .. it's part of who I am so I want to embrace it I'd just prefer to not feel so conflicted about it all though!

[Pax]

Thanks for your input everyone

Morri, that was only my guesstimation My sister has been able to qualify for Abstudy etc. so there is a blood link there, I just don't know that much about the exact origin of the link IYKWIM.

Thing is, for me, I would *like* to identify myself as Indigenous BUT I still feel like I'm a fraud because I've only just recently found out - if we had known when I was growing up I'd feel more comfortable about it .. it's part of who I am so I want to embrace it I'd just prefer to not feel so conflicted about it all though!

Be true to yourself and confident in yourself.there is NOTHING wrong with embracing your heritage regardless of when you discover it and celebrating your origins.

I love family history its an amazing journey discovering it.

Let yourself enjoy it.

[sockstealingpoltergeist]

Yes my fathers side of the family comes from the south sea islands. I don't know anything about them.

I do read and and involve myself in Indigenous issues and debate and speak to Indigenous people on issues. I have taken Indigenous subjects and learnt a lot.

[BigRedV]

No, I am not of Aboriginal descent, but my BIL just found out he is not long ago.

[Purpz]

Hey there.

I'm lucky enough to be Aboriginal from both of my parents.
As such I grew up with this knowledge.

If you're Aboriginal, then don't worry about being open about it.
My skin is white as white but I'm accepted by the community.

To be honest, if you're respectful, if you understand that not having Aboriginal features means we are not exposed to the same racism, usually, as our black family, you should be fine.

Just be proud!
[-O-]

[BigRedV]

My BIL found out not long ago.

He's not entitled to free housing or anything, no fancy cars

He and my nieces and nephews do have an aboriginal health card, but that's it.

[Purpz]

There is no free housing or free cars...
I don't know where people get these ideas from.

There is some targeted help... But there is also help for immigrants, the disabled, the poor, the ill...

There's help for tonnes of different people out there

[LoveHeart]

if this is the aboriginal ancestor then there is no direct lineage to you. Your grandmother's mother's Aunt is not direct relative to you.

This. If this is the relative that is aboriginal, then you are not part aboriginal.

ETA:

Morri, that was only my guesstimation My sister has been able to qualify for Abstudy etc. so there is a blood link there, I just don't know that much about the exact origin of the link IYKWIM.

So, you dont really know if you are part aboriginal, or not, yet you already feel like they are "your people". I would do more research to find out if you really are from Aboriginal decent.

Also this:

Bountiful - one of my friends is studying aboriginal education at the moment and the way she explained it to me was that to identify yourself as aboringinal its not the colour of your skin but an internal identification calling and connection to the land. she maybe wrong tho??? anyone feel free to correct.

I read the abstudy criteria and you have to meet three things to make you aboriginal/torres straight islander
1. Have to be of aboriginal/torres straight islander decent
2. Identify as an aboriginal/torres straight islander
3. Is accepted as such by the community in which they live, or have lived.

"You may be asked to provide evidence to prove you meet all three parts of this definition"

My great great grandfather is Indian but I dont feel like I am Indian at all. Even if there were "freebies" for being Indian, I would not claim them. I dont identify myself with Indians because seriously, he was alive years and years ago, I never met the man, and wouldnt know a thing about his culture.

I dont know how someone can claim that they "identify" with being any race just because some distant relative that they havent met or dont know anything about is part something.

Another example, my hubby has met his dad about 3 times. His dad is Greek and his mum is Sri Lankan. My hubby doesnt even identify himself as Greek because he doesnt even know his dad, or anything about the culture. And thats someone who is 50% Greek.

ETA again, I identify myself as an Australian. There is a little bit of everything in there and I come from multiple generations of people being born in Australia. I think the last one born out of Australia was my great grandfather who was born in Scotland. Yet again, I dont identify myself as Scottish just because he is Scottish....

[talialee]

I'm half aboriginal from my dads side. You shouldn't feel uncomfortable about finding out about your heritage! I'm white, but all my family on my dads side are black and they don't care.. If your aboriginal, then you aboriginal and they will accept you and all aboriginals that I have come in contact with and have told that I'm aboriginal automatically make you feel apart of them and make you feel like you belong. Just be open about it. And yes you do have to prove your aboriginality through your local land council and attend all their meetings for a few months and then they will give you a confirmation certificate (but that's only if you want to claim things).