Yolngu life in the northem territory of Australia : the significance of community and social capital
By: CHRISTIE, Michael; GREATOREX, John
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ArticlePublisher: Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, June 2004The Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration 26, 1, p. 55-70Abstract: The notion of social capital has had wide currency in mainstream social policy debate in recent years, with coomonly used definitions emphasising three factors: norms, networks and trust. Yolngu Aboriginal people have their own perspectives on norms, networks and trust relationships. This article uses concepts from Yolngu philosophy to explore these perspectives in three contexts: at the former mission settlements, at homeland centres, and among "long-grassers" in Darwin. The persistence of the components of social capital at different levels in particular contexts should be seen by governmnent policy makers as an opportunity to engage in a social development dialogue with Yolngu, aimed at identifying the specific contexts in wich Yolngu social capital can be maximised.
The notion of social capital has had wide currency in mainstream social policy debate in recent years, with coomonly used definitions emphasising three factors: norms, networks and trust. Yolngu Aboriginal people have their own perspectives on norms, networks and trust relationships. This article uses concepts from Yolngu philosophy to explore these perspectives in three contexts: at the former mission settlements, at homeland centres, and among "long-grassers" in Darwin. The persistence of the components of social capital at different levels in particular contexts should be seen by governmnent policy makers as an opportunity to engage in a social development dialogue with Yolngu, aimed at identifying the specific contexts in wich Yolngu social capital can be maximised.
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