View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Sydney eScholarship Urban Aboriginal identity construction in Australia: an Aboriginal perspective utilising multi-method qualitative analysis Reuben James Bolt BHS (Hons) (Univ. of Sydney); MA (Univ. of Technology Sydney) [ARTWORK DELETED] A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The Faculty of Health Sciences The University of Sydney November 2009 Cover artwork The artwork on the cover was painted by my brother, Robert Bolt. The following text is a description of Robert’s artwork as told in the words of his eldest daughter Rondell Lloyd-Bolt - aged 13: This is a painting that my dad, Robert Bolt did. I think that this painting symbolises being away from the sea, your family and where you come from. I like this painting because the jellyfish look like they are moving on the canvas. © This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the author. Author’s email: [email protected] Urban Aboriginal identity construction in Australia Reuben Bolt, University of Sydney, 2009 ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank and acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land where this research took place: the Wandandian peoples. The Wandandian people have lived in this area for thousands of years. I would like to acknowledge and thank the participants (most are descendants of the Wandandian peoples) for their role in this study. I am whole-heartedly indebted to them for their contribution. I would also like to acknowledge my supervisory panel which consisted of my supervisor Associate Professor Cherry Russell, my associate supervisor Professor Chris Cunningham, and my mentor Professor Gavin Mooney. All three members of the supervisory panel have made significant contributions to the final product. In particular, I would like to thank and acknowledge Professor Gavin Mooney’s contribution, kind words and motivation throughout the early years of the PhD and final write-up stage: he always believed in me. Dr Lesley Batten - thank you for the ‘fresh eyes’ proof read of the thesis; substantial amendments were made from this contribution. Dr Virginia Simpson-Young - thank you for providing feedback and formatting the thesis. I would also like to acknowledge several Aboriginal community organisations in Nowra, NSW: the South Coast Cultural Centre, the Arwon Aboriginal Elders Corporation, the South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation, the Aboriginal Legal Service and the Illaroo Aboriginal Corporation. I would like to acknowledge financial assistance from various funding bodies. During my candidature I have been the recipient of three scholarships: a University Postgraduate Award; a National Health and Medical Research Council travel scholarship; and the Te Pumanawa Hauora Doctoral Completion Scholarship. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the Research Centre for Maori Health and Development, Massey University, which funded my travel to Wellington, New Zealand, for supervisory meetings and the Indigenous Postgraduate Summer School for funding travel and accommodation to the University of Melbourne. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this financial assistance. Without it, I would not have been able to devote the time necessary to complete the thesis. In 2005 I won first prize for a presentation at the Faculty of Health Sciences Colloquium which was held at the University of Sydney. I would like to thank and acknowledge them for giving me the opportunity to present the proposal for my research. Urban Aboriginal identity construction in Australia Reuben Bolt, University of Sydney, 2009 iii [this page is intentionally left blank] Urban Aboriginal identity construction in Australia Reuben Bolt, University of Sydney, 2009 iv STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY I, Reuben Bolt, declare this thesis titled “Urban Aboriginal identity construction in Australia: an Aboriginal perspective utilising multi-method qualitative analysis” is my own original work and has not been submitted in whole or in part for a higher degree at any other University or institution. [SIGNATURE DELETED] Mr. Reuben Bolt STUDENT DECLARATION I certify that this thesis titled “Urban Aboriginal identity construction in Australia: an Aboriginal perspective utilising multi-method qualitative analysis” will be available to the public after examination. [SIGNATURE DELETED] Mr. Reuben Bolt Urban Aboriginal identity construction in Australia Reuben Bolt, University of Sydney, 2009 v TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................ III STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY .............................................................................................................. V STUDENT DECLARATION ......................................................................................................................... V TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................. VI LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES .......................................................................................................... VIII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................................................... IX TRANSCRIPTION CONVENTIONS .......................................................................................................... X ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................................. XII CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1: RESEARCH QUESTION, AIMS AND SIGNIFICANCE ..................................................................................... 3 1.2: SUMMARY OF CHAPTERS ......................................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER 2: AUSTRALIAN COLONIAL HISTORY CONTEXT .......................................................... 6 2.1: THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF THE ‘OTHER’ ................................................................................................. 6 2.2: WHAT DOES THIS HISTORY MEAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF IDENTITY? ............................................ 18 2.3: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ABORIGINAL IDENTITY? ........................................................................... 21 2.4: ABORIGINAL PEOPLE AND AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS ....................................................................... 24 2.5: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR URBAN ABORIGINAL PEOPLE? .................................................................. 28 2.6: CHALLENGES FOR ABORIGINAL IDENTITY ............................................................................................ 35 2.7: WHERE NOW? ....................................................................................................................................... 39 2.8: INDIGENIST RESEARCH PARADIGM ........................................................................................................ 40 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................ 44 3.1: PARADIGM ............................................................................................................................................ 44 3.2: EPISTEMOLOGY ..................................................................................................................................... 46 3.3: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE .................................................................................................................. 48 3.3.1: Symbolic Interactionism ............................................................................................................... 48 3.3.2: Narrative identity ......................................................................................................................... 52 3.4: QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................. 57 3.5: METHOD ............................................................................................................................................... 60 3.5.1: Research site ................................................................................................................................ 60 3.5.2: Data collection ............................................................................................................................. 61 3.5.3: Sampling and recruitment ............................................................................................................ 62 3.5.4: Data analysis ............................................................................................................................... 63 3.5.5: Ethical considerations .................................................................................................................. 72 3.6: THE RESEARCH PROCESS ....................................................................................................................... 74 3.6.1: Elements of my personal life story