The Aboriginal Child in the Modern World

Extract

How can one describe him? Cheeky, shy, mischievous, intelligent. He is all of these. He also has a great sense of humour and great powers of observation and hearing. Sometimes I’ve found his sense of humour rather weird, but I’ve found it’s because he cannot express himself in words, so he laughs at things, even someone else’s misfortunes„

Since working with them I have found there is a difference between the urban child and the humpy child.

Urban children grow up in an ordinary urban situation like any other childo Their best friend could be the European kid next door and they can be welcome in each other’s homes at any time They are very much integrated and can be found with a mixed group of any nationality. Their ideas are much the same: to grow up and get a job – an apprenticeship if a boy, or a truck driver. The girls think teaching or typing would be nice. These children feel pretty secure, especially if they have parents who are either Christians or non-drinkers.

Both urban and humpy children have strong family ties and become terribly lonely if away from familiar surroundings. Little children are protected by other people even when deserted by their own mothers. I found, if I have them home to stay with me for a weekend, the children usually want to stay longer and when they return to the family they usually go up in the rest of the family’s estimation. They are very interested in all you do in the home – from cooking a meal to washing and cleaning. They want to know why you do this, that or the other, and they follow you around, watching. They like to help you do things and you can end up having quite a hilarious time in the kitchen.