Between two worlds: Aboriginal cultural autonomy and economic assimilation in remote Western Australia in the 1980s

Abstract

This thesis explores the possibility that in remote regions of Australia there may be some contradiction between the aim of economic assimilation as reflected in the policy of self management, and the aim of cultural autonomy as reflected in the policy of self-determination. This is done by analysing the way the work performed by Aboriginal people was organised in the industries of a region of the west Kimberley of Western Australia during 1985 and 1986. The thesis concludes that cultural factors did appear to influence the way that Aboriginal people were involved in the economy, and that these factors were most prevalent where Aboriginal control was greatest. However, it was noted that other factors also influenced Aboriginal involvement in the economy. These included the very low levels of training in all industries and in economic management, as well as the restrictions on full-time employment imposed by the region's seasons. The thesis also proposes that the Aboriginal traditional attachment to remote regions, such as the west Kimberley, makes economic assimilation and self-management difficult because of the limited potential of such regions to provide the necessary economic activity, within the mainstream economy of the nation state Show more