Aborigines need 'fair go' in art profits

The Australian: Aborigines need 'fair go' in art profits :

"'The Aboriginal people always end up losing and I want to stop that,' he told The Australian from his property at Malanda, outside Cairns in north Queensland. 'I want to see Aboriginal people get a fair go.'"

Tribal people are often exploited because they see art as an integral part of living and not as a means to earning income. They often produce very beautiful functional pieces which then become priceless "artefacts" in our society. Art and culture are one and the same. Theur art is theui life and an expression of their living. We then "market" it because we like it and it is taken out of context and given a fiscal value. tribal people need to be shown how this works so htat they can determine what happens to their art and understand how it could be used to create an income stream. The difference between a subsistance lifestyel and an economy. We should not exploit them because they have different values. We should show them our values so they can decide and choose to participate or not. They should be taught to be the major stake holders in the development of their artistic talents, because "new age" tribal art will take on a new meaning, image and impetus.