MY CONFUSION OVER THE QUESTION OF ETHNIC IDENTITY

– I am wondering why it is that many people of mixed ethnicity proudly acknowledge their indigenous (aboriginal) heritage while overlooking, downplaying or ignoring their other ethnic characteristics. It seems to me that this is more and more the case.

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– It is this characteristic that without doubt is adding quite exponentially to the number of people within Australia in all states and territories now identifying as “Indigenous Australians“.

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– In many contexts, those claims while quite legitimate under procedures of recognition, are distorting funding and sending financial support in wrong directions. A lot of that funding is now going to where it’s not needed but is being claimed purely and simply on the basis of ethnic characteristic.

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– I’d really like to know why the change (other than it seems to be one of financial incentive) if there are reasons of a non-monetary nature for this happening.

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– Another aspect that worries me is that of people claiming identity under these circumstances, denying and not appreciating the contribution made to their development by the totality of their ethnic origin.

– I am wondering why it is that many people of mixed ethnicity proudly acknowledge their indigenous (aboriginal) heritage while overlooking, downplaying or ignoring their other ethnic characteristics. It seems to me that this is more and more the case.

–

– It is this characteristic that without doubt is adding quite exponentially to the number of people within Australia in all states and territories now identifying as “Indigenous Australians“.

–

– In many contexts, those claims while quite legitimate under procedures of recognition, are distorting funding and sending financial support in wrong directions. A lot of that funding is now going to where it’s not needed but is being claimed purely and simply on the basis of ethnic characteristic.

–

– I’d really like to know why the change (other than it seems to be one of financial incentive) if there are reasons of a non-monetary nature for this happening.

–

– Another aspect that worries me is that of people claiming identity under these circumstances, denying and not appreciating the contribution made to their development by the totality of their ethnic origin.