I'm going to be controversial here and state that these cultures are completely unable to function alongside those of those who colonised them. Whether they are Native Americans, African-Americans or the Aboriginal peoples, their respective cultures are all defined by historical oppression and ancient grievances. It's why African-Americans will often claim their entire country was built by their racial group, ignoring the others who did just as much work to mold the USA. It's why Native Americans will continually act as if they have more right to their land based on their ancestry.
And I am not downplaying the hardships they have faced, I am saying that this sense of of hostility, this unwillingness to assimilate is vital to who they are, and simultaneously is the reason why even in more enlightened times they are viewed as alien.
How can white Americans fully accept a minority whose entire cultural identity is based around villifying them, and retroactively painting their cultural heroes as oppressors and monsters? Again, I'm not saying that to insult anyone, it's a genuine question on my part.
A society can only just about tolerate other cultures within it, so long as some effort is made at assimilation. But those who insist on standing on the sidelines, who protect their otherness, will always be victims. If you don't believe me, look at the treatment of the Romani community in the UK and Ireland. Some of whom were actually driven from their homes by mobs throwing bricks. Those who don't bend tend to break.
I'd say Australian aboriginal society has functioned, badly, and survived, badly, since white settlement
In the1950's we were taught that the aboriginals were a dying race, and expected to be extinct within a matter of decades. For that reason, mixed race children were removed from their aboriginal parents, and attempts were made to assimilate theme into white culture. . Didn't work.
To the great surprise of the experts, aboriginal numbers increased, and with that increase, massive social problems. A racist Australian society would not allow them assimilate, although that was the stated official aim. They were ignored for decades. The outcome was they belonged to neither culture, except for small groups who had managed to largely avoid white contact.
The aboriginals absorbed the worst aspects of white society: They discovered white flour and white sugar, and attempts were made to get them to remain in one place.. A traditional hunting and gathering people ,they did not have any concept of static hygiene, which led to problems with diseases.
PerhapsTHE problem was and is alcohol. Australian aborigines, like the native Americans, did not have alcohol as part of their culture, nor were they able to physically tolerate alcohol. This has led to a disproportionately large number of aboriginal people suffering from alcoholism. Other rampant health problems include hepatitis, renal disease and STD's. Aboriginal society is a gerontocracy, anarchic (no formal government structure) . but controlled by elders.
Aboriginal are disproportionately represented in Australian prisons.
At present, 45% of men and 34% of women die before age 45. The rest have a lief expectancy of around 65.
Before a 1963 (I think) referendum, Australian aborigines were not included in the national census, They were not citizens and had no rights. They were 'cared for' by the paternalistic , bumbling, Department of Aboriginal Affairs. The approach begun then is still used today. The 'aboriginal problem' was put in the too hard box. Vast sums of money were chucked at them on a fairly regular basis. This not done directly, but via range of government organisations, committees, and various groups set up, and run by 'responsible aboriginals; Millions of dollars were spent over decades. The figures I quoted above are fairly current,. nothing significant has changed in 40 years from where I sit.
What's the solution? I don't know.I'm not sure there is one now, I think too much damage has been done. In my opinion , the situation could d not possibly be worse if the aboriginal people had been simply left to their own devices, from first contact. That didn't happen because. They were often a 'pest' to settlers and because of the humbug of do gooders to introduce the aboriginal people to civilisation and Jesus.
The above is a very short opinion piece, loosely based on extensive reading done as part of my university studies. I mention this only to show I have thought about this issue for a long time. It is not to make a claim of superior knowledge, nor indeed to make a claims to 'being right' . I'm not sure there is a 'right answer' to what I consider a complex social issue.
