Understanding urban Aboriginal culture

Jonathon Jones writes, ‘To overcome this issue of appropriation of ‘traditional’ Aboriginal art and the general lack of understanding of contemporary urban Aboriginal culture, we need to expand the narrow stereotyped notion of Aboriginality that mainstream society has created. The education of the community is the foundation of change. To achieve this major re-education of the mainstream community it needs to be facilitated through educational institutions and the major art and cultural institutions. Creating an environment where the mainstream community realises, accepts and respects the reality of urban Aboriginal culture, and in turn Aborigines, so we can feel comfortable with who we are.’ (Heiss, p. 59)