Who is an Aborigine?

Extract

The answer to the question above may seem obvious, but it often appears that there is misunderstanding among the community at large about who and what Aborigines are.

The Federal Government sums up the answer this way:

An Aboriginal person is one of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent who identifies as Aboriginal or Islander and is accepted as such by the community with which he or she is associated.

While Aboriginal people often differ markedly in their outlook and values from non-Aboriginal people, it is not so well known that Aboriginal groups themselves vary in language, culture and social structure.

These differences between Aboriginal people depend on their attachment to traditional cultural values, the degree to which they have adopted a European lifestyle and in the customs of differing regional groups.

Whatever their background. Aboriginal people have a strong sense of identity and pride in being Aboriginal.