Dreaming the circle: indigeneity and the longing for belonging in White Australia

Abstract

In settler-descendant societies indigenous identity becomes a powerful and a fraught symbol of belonging to place. Multiple voices negotiate its meaning, make claims and counter-claims, extend invitations and deny access. One Australian says 'here, in the bush, where I was born, where I grew up, I can feel the spirits watching me'. Another says (...). Many voices challenge these statements of non-aboriginal belonging, call them colonia, call out against the crime of appripriating identity. and then an Aboriginal custodian negotiating for land in another native title claim says to the Australian court: 'We have a gift we have been trying to give you... We want to fill up your emptiness with meaning so that you can love us and our country. We want to teach all Australians about their belonging in this country...