Without indigenous DNA I claim Aboriginal Heritage and Culture as part of who I am as Australian 2018 but not just because I am Australian. Because of my relationships.
Enlivening my meditation tonight is my friendly relationship with a guy at a local restaurant. Happily I did not assume he was lowly in the hierarchy because he is dark skinned. Not really black as some of the new African immigrants are but very handsomely somewhere, some skin colour, in between.
I am happy that I do not know where he ranks. He could well be the boss, possibly a minion, Point is , he is a nice guy and good at his trade.
Looking at him, and enjoying his company, made me think of one of my guilty moments. When I saw a Pommie (race descriptive but not racist) crime show. The first scene was a black and a white copper. I assumed the black guy was the lower rank. After decades of thinking about race issues I presumed that. My Bad.
I have great, to me at least, friendship with many people who are Adnymathanha. Some of this group dislike me immensely, Some, I like to think, like me a fair bit.
The then oldest living speaker, ( now dead) of the language "Yura-Ngarwarla" through my work, which developed into a trusting relationship, told me many traditional things, including the spot in the creek where she was actually born. Too many things to relate here and in any case it is her families story to tell not mine.
Point is, I am pleased that she ascribed to me a moiety, associated with another (now deceased) Adnyamathanha Kuyani man. Over time I have visited with my friends and clients various special places, traditionally secret and sacred.
Some of my Adnyamathanha client/friends have been emotionally distressed and howling to me me over the telephone when such special sites are interfered with. They are genuine. I have no doubt.
So when I see the people with the same colour skin as me claiming that they are Aboriginal and a different race to me and that I am racist if I do not obey their whimisical re-discovery of aboriginality:
I say any alleged racial difference to me is social and politically constructed. It is they who are far more racist that I try not to be.
I deny their claim for priority as Australian.