DOCUMENT: NAC_3.TXT N A T I O N A L A B O R I G I N A L C O N F E R E N C E POSITION PAPER ON ECONOMICS ECONOMICS ~~~~~~~~~ In the traditional societies of Aborigines there was no such thing as a monetary system nor was there any bargaining between the people within the tribe or with other tribes. When Aboriginal tribes met for specific purposes, and that is, the initiation of the young men and/or tribal ceremonies. There were, however, communicational links between the many different tribes and there were at these meetings exchange of goods. The exchange of these goods was not designed for economic purposes they merely represented goodwill between the tribes. The best illustration that I have ever heard in relation to how we survived was by a man by the name of Mr. Bob Holroyd of Edward River, Arukun, North Queensland, when he was delivering a speech to an anti- uranium rally in Sydney in 1977, and he said, "Before the white man came we had no need of industry nor did we have a need for a monetary system, and laws of our people was such that if we wanted food all we had to do was go into the bush and get it and for those who lived on the coast, merely had to go to the sea where food was always plentiful, these places were our stores we had no need for money." The present claim for land rights that our people make is not based upon the white man's belief in land as an economic base, land is not an investment in the economic sense. Aboriginal people are not of this view, the land to Aboriginal people is the perpetuation of our spiritual ancestors. It also serves as a medium from which we are able to communicate with our dreamtime, further it also serves for the continual evolution of the Aboriginal people and their spirit. If one is to describe how the land is used by Aborigines for wealth then it can only be said, that it is the spiritual wealth that concerns the Aboriginal people. All that was needed to sustain the people that exists an this continent prior to colonial development was here. In short, the basic distinction between Aborigines and whites, can be best illustrated by saying that the white man's wealth and security is materially orientated, as opposed to aborigines whose wealth is, his spiritual wealth and his security is the uninterrupted continuation of that spirit. In order for the Aborigines to develop any form of economic base that may be remotely similar to the white Australians, we need land, land that is ours from time immemorial and the continual denial of land rights, denies the Aborigines of a method for self-determination and economic development. For our people to set any criteria for self-determination, there must be a moratorium on mining in this country, because whilst mining and mineral exploration continues the Governments both State and Federal will refuse to negotiate with Aborigines. It is important to point out that in order to have a moratorium the Federal Government must be made to realise that its continued failure to take action under the constitution denies us a method. RECOMMENDATIONS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. That there be a moratorium on mining and mineral exploration within Australia and within Australian waters for a period of three years. 2. That the Federal Government recognize unconditional land rights. 3. That the Federal Government appropriate the necessary finance for Aboriginal development in capital enterprise. 4. That the Federal Government legislate where necessary to give Aborigines in each state of Australia the right to develop their communities without hinderance from such states. 5. That the finance appropriated for expenditure in Aboriginal Affairs be classified as compensation for lands that have been lost as well as the destruction of traditional Aboriginal societies. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: -= THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT =- :: :: A service provided by :: :: The Center For World Indigenous Studies :: :: www.cwis.org :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Originating at the Center for World Indigenous Studies, Olympia, Washington USA www.cwis.org © 1999 Center for World Indigenous Studies (All Rights Reserved. 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