Aboriginal - identity

Aboriginal; identity; relatives; mob; belonging; family; families; race ;

"Hullo, sister "

"Who's your mob?"

"My mob come from up North there!"

"Unna ...they my people too."

"Hey, you my relation then!"

"Who's your mob?"... Heard this before?

How many times have you been asked "Where do you come from?"

This does not mean where you have just come from or how you got here, but means... "Where do you belong?"

By knowing the answers we know where we belong. It is our security, it is our identity!

Our identity brings unity, it is our family ties. It is knowing about how we all fit together.

We need to know who we are, where we've come from, where we are now and where we're going.

And we need to feel good about it and good about ourselves.

We want our kids to know our ways, to understand, and to practice them.

Our kids learn at an early age by watching, listening and practising, and by close contact with others.

Our identity as Aboriginal people keeps growing throughout all our family life.

These things might help

• Encourage your kids to know who they are and where they fit.
• Share with them the stories told long ago and talk the talk of long ago.
• Get strength and hope from believing in yourself.
• Get strength from knowing and trusting your belief.
• Give your kids the knowledge that they are a part of, and that they belong to, an old and very proud race of people.
• Never forget where you come from.

These places might be able to help in South Australia

• Aboriginal Link Up (08) 8223 5217
• The Sacred Site Within (08) 8242 3687
• Aboriginal Family Support Services (08) 8212 1112
• SA Museum (Aboriginal Unit) (08) 8207 7410
• Family Well Being Program (08) 8463 4800

Tell our kids to be proud that they are Aboriginal and why we as parents are proud!

 

Written by Ingrid O'Loughlin and Parenting SA
Artwork by Ingrid O'Loughlin
Related Aboriginal Parent Easy Guide
     (Parenting SA website - PDF format)

The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).

This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn - please change to suit your
child's sex.