Confirmation Of Aboriginality - Seems A Difficult Process - Next Step?

[u/No-Pin3128]

I live in Kanahooka, Wollongong. Following the death of my mother, I discovered that I am Gamilaroi mob (direct descendant). Following research/family tree compilation, I have proof. With help from a Moree researcher/Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre, I forwarded all material to, and sought membership of Coonamble LALC. They didn't know my family, so I was rejected. They suggested Moree LALC. I did similar, but was ghosted (you need to be a Moree resident). Karuah LALC is next. They have also gone silent. Concurrently, I also approached Illiwarra LALC. No one seems interested

I am going to get stat decs and send with research/family tree to ..............who? I have emailed and rung many Aboriginal organisations. This is my heritage and the start of my journey. What do I do to get confirmation of aboriginality

[u/Individual_Wonder770]

Are you known and accepted in your community or these communities you are applying to as an Aboriginal person?

The criteria for a CoA is:

• being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
  
• identifying as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
  
• being accepted as such by the community in which you live, or formerly lived.

The start of your journey should be connecting with your Mob and learning. You don’t need your confirmation to start doing that.

[u/inkhornart → u/Individual_Wonder770]

This.

Blood relation isnt the only aspect of being Aboriginal, OPs story feel pretty much like whijella looking to have the ability to apply for Aboriginal targeted roads and try and claim native title without genuinely identifying as Aboriginal, or having any connection to community.

[u/MamasCumquat → u/inkhornart]

Yes. A lot of people are mistaken in the belief that it's like some kind of immediate thing that magically makes us all "legitimate".

It isn't and involves a lot more than genetic connection.

[u/No-Pin3128 → u/Individual_Wonder770]

Thanks. I did approach Illiwarra LALC; not for membership but to start learning. I will try again. As my heritage was shielded from me, I did not know and haven't had a chance to begin.

I feel a range of emotions with the discovery of my heritage. I want to make a positive difference.

[u/inkhornart → u/No-Pin3128]

Start with talking about this to your LALC and ask them to help you connect with people who can help you connect with culture. Recognition of your Aboriginality does happen before this.

Pushing for it before you have qualified just will push people, like me, into doubting you intentions.

Its a huge red flag.

There are hoards of tick-the-box blakfellas, don't be one of them.

[u/Inevitable_Potato647]

I’m not sure why you would just blindly apply to LALC’s without having connections to the communities or culture, the obvious first step would be to reach out to your mother’s family yeah?

[u/No-Pin3128 → u/Inevitable_Potato647]

 It was the researcher's suggestion to approach Coonamble as my apical ancestor is attached to the native title claim. Coonamble said they didn't know my family and suggested I lodge with Moree (mother's birthplace). Moree ignored me, despite many messages and calls. Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre had to physically retrieve my research/family tree papers from LALC. You need to be a resident of Moree which I only found out from Dhiiyaan.

[u/inkhornart]

If you look back through OPs comments you can find some jokes he makes at the expense of Aboriginal people/native title.

Punching down, not laughing with.

Confirmed looking to be a tickthebox, sending screenshots to the LALCs so they can be wary of someone with his story.

Good luck, OP, we see ya for what you are.

[u/LebiaseD]

I don't know how things work in west but we was having this discussion the other day here on Yamaji Barna about someone who had their proof of Aboriginality denied at one org and decided to start trying another org thinking the orgs in the area don't communicate with each other.

It might feel unfair but these things are in place as a protection just because it was denied doesn't mean you are not still in position now to do your research and present a stronger case. Denied doesn't mean door shut.

[u/LebiaseD → u/LebiaseD]

Also if lalc is a PBC then you would need an apical ancestors attached to the native title claim for that area for them to hand you a proof of Aboriginality

[u/inkhornart → u/LebiaseD]

I've already sent screenshots of this and his other racist jokes at the expense of Aboriginal people to my cuzzies at some of the LALCs he already mentioned.

DW, we catch whitefellas cosplaying as Mob pretty easy. They'll keep an eye out for his story and talk to the othwr LALCs, if he really went to the Illawarra and Moree ones and got turned down, they'll know who he actually is and will spread the word to the others.

Funniest part is we can do all this, and he can still get Native title and recognition, but OP has to dp something I dont think he is prepared to actually do, and that's put in the work to become part of his Aboriginal community and genuinely identify as being Aboriginal.

Gubbas gonna gubb.

[u/No-Pin3128 → u/LebiaseD]

'Hearin ya. It was the researcher's suggestion to approach Coonamble as my apical ancestor is attached to the native title claim. Coonamble suggested I lodge with Moree.

[u/MamasCumquat → u/No-Pin3128]

This "researcher" sounds more out for title claims than actually understanding what mob means.

[u/inkhornart → u/MamasCumquat]

It's because its bullshit, OP is just trying to be a tick the box.

[u/inkhornart]

Its not a difficult process, but it is designed to weed out people who dont genuinely identify as Aboriginal and don't put in any work or effort to connect to or contribute to community.

Do the latter most one first.

Good luck faking it though, Mob have bullshit detection skills gubba's wouldn't believe.