[Aliantha]

OK, with regard to what PH is proposing, indigenous people in Australia had their own governing body for a while. It was set up in an anglo saxon form, but was run by indigenous people for the benefit of indigenous people. There were elections and referendums. There were news letters and all sorts of other stuff. Web pages and the like. The list goes on. The point of the body was to improve indigenous lifestyles and to give indigenous people in this country a voice.

Unfortunately, not enough indigenous people actually participated in the process. There simply wasn't any interest - or so the word is anyway - so it was closed down a few years ago.

I think this body was a fantastic idea and should have been workable. I hope that it is reinstated now that we have a new government, and I believe it will be. But like what happened here, sometimes even the people they're designed to help don't want to get involved.

anyway, I just thought I'd share that with you so you can ruminate on it.

BTW PH, have you changed your views at all?