Identity

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The text for this topic is copyright Parenting SA, Government of South Australia.

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 meaning ... "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 practise them.

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

Our identity as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people keeps growing throughout all our family life.

Some of our family and our community may be unsure about their identity because of things that have happened in their life.

These things might help

• Encourage your kids to know who they are.
• 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.
• If you, or someone you know is unsure about their identity and would like to know more, encourage them to contact someone who can help them to trace their origins at the Family History Service (AIATSIS), telephone 6246 1111.

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

ACT Govt Publication No 10/0825 June 2010