I often see these words used interchangeably, though as I understand it there is a difference between the two ideologies, no?
I often see these words used interchangeably, though as I understand it there is a difference between the two ideologies, no?
The clan or tribe who cares for the land where the lithium is mined will meet for a yarning circle. At the yarning circle, they’ll talk about the foreigners’ need for lithium and whether the foreigners make for good neighbours. The foreigners’ gifts to the clan will be judged. The totem holders of the impacted species will speak on sustainability issues. Everyone will listen to the Elders.
They’ll reach a consensus on whether the foreigners are good neighbours, whether they need the lithium, and how much damage the mine will do to the land. The clan will make a decision together. Then the mine will be approved or denied.
Sounds just like today. The positions of elders would soon atract the ruthless psychopats that seek power. The sustainability speak soon becomes an empty ritual. A few powerfull people decide the important stuff based on their potential gains.
To become a traditional Elder, you need to be an Indigenous person, have an ancestral connection to the local region, live there for many decades, hold and pass on sacred cultural knowledge, be a mentor to young people in your community, and be respected by the local Indigenous community for your wisdom.
If we’re talking about, say, Greenbushes lithium mine (oldest and biggest lithium mine in Australia), that’s located on country shared by the Wardani, Kaniyang, and Bibbulmun peoples of the Noongar nation. To be a Wardani, Kaniyang, or Bibbulmun Elder, you’d have to be from that small local area for many generations, and be respected by the local families. You’d have to know all those people by name and be their uncle or auntie. You’d have to be the person they look to when they have a spiritual problem or they need someone to look after their baby.
How’s that gonna attract ruthless [insert ableist slur]
Don’t see this word applied much in communist literature. Are we not all the proletariat united?
On what basis? Are they elected or just old?
And what prevents the group who you decide not to supply lithium to from invading you and taking it?
What if several tribes claim the land with the lithium, as tends to happen with valuable resources?
As a non-Indigenous unperson, I stay out of those kinds of conversations. It’s not My place to speak on internal Indigenous politics. You should ask an Indigenous person.
Whats an unperson?
Something that looks like a person but isn’t. I don’t identify as a person because of My kintype.
Is this a furry thing?
Close enough
So you think you’re not a person. Do you think you’re still entitled to legal personhood? Or would you rather forfeit all the legal protections that come with that?