I hear so little about Native Americans/Aborigines/Maoris

[ChickenGuy]

There seems to be so little that is ever said about them.

I never see them in soaps, sitcoms, reality shows etc.

Usually the only time I see them is when they do some customary dance for a visiting dignitary.

Do they prefer staying on their own land, i.e. reservations, and not mix much with others?

Are they still discriminated against, for example when it comes to land ownership rights?

Do they still hold on to their traditional customs? Or is that a bit of a stereotypical view of them?

Do any JUBbers have friends from these races?

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[boxerdudeuk]

google canadian aboriginal affairs. we definitely have a very active, very politically aware group of aboriginal peoples here. there's challenges and struggles for both sides of the equation - we're still trying to figure a lot of it out as a nation. there's a lot of resentment and ignorance on behalf of both parts.

 

[kevbo]

I have a few Ho-Chunk and Dakota Sioux friends. Unfortunately all of them live up to the stereotype of a modern drunken Indian.

 

[slickery]

It's one of those things you have to be in the country to see. I just watched the Indigenous NRL team play Australia last weekend.

Aborgines are still fighting to get some of their land back, but it's very difficult to do as it was laid out in Mabo v Queensland. The more remote parts of the country are still very Aborginal and there are lot of social issues occurring. You wont hear them on the evening news though, one has to listen to non commercial public radio to hear about them.

 

[kevbo]

^ Moreso, I'd say

 

[Lukeee]

What is a Native Americans/Aborigines/Maoris? How are they different from normal people?

 

[frankfrank]

Interesting, that was the very topic of conversation today on Make It Plain (with Mark Thompson - a radio show on Sirius Left). This was the first time in YEARS that I've seen or heard any serious discussion of these first peoples of the western Pacific. Occasionally Native Americans (which, to me, extend from the Mexican rainforests to the icy world of the far North of Canada) get mentioned or talked about.

I was very surprised to hear today that Aborigines weren't considered to be citizens until a national referendum vote in 1967. I found this on the internet:

"In 1967 the Australians voted Aborigines real citizens. They were given the same rights as everyone else."

but according to Make It Plain, they weren't recognized as even being HUMAN BEINGS before this.

I was always aware that Australia didn't treat its earliest people very well, but I never knew to what extent. Apparently even now their life expectancy is 37 years, which is no better than the life expectancy of people who are cursed to be living in a failed-government country in the Tropics.

 

[Lame_Deer]

could be they just prefer it that way