Our Right to Take Responsibility

Noel Pearson, currently an adviser to the Cape York Land Council, sets out in this paper ideas that he has discussed and heard discussed amongst his people in Cape York. He makes a clear and negative connection between welfare and deteriorating social conditions.

Discusses welfare and the welfare paradigm; racism as a burden but not a disability; key problems for Aboriginal people of Cape York are racism and welfare dependency; examines Aboriginal society and governance in Cape York and discusses the right to resources and opportunity; suggests a new model for Aboriginal leadership and governance which draws on old values and traditions; failures of governments have been the inability to tackle issues in a holistic way and the tendency to deliver welfare; true meaning of self determination.