Paper short abstract

This paper will present research into the practice of everyday relations among Aboriginal family and a micro-history of social action in corporate and bureaucratic contexts to elaborate on processes of belonging to family.

Paper long abstract

The emphasis on proof of connection to place and group in the legal context of native title permeates relationships among interdependent members of Aboriginal families in a northern Queensland rural town. The ideological power of state recognition may be seen in the pervasiveness of a kind of fetish for 'blood' and descent in native title claimants' reckoning of belonging. However, Aboriginal people also use corporate structures and processes relating to native title as opportunities to arrange and play out interpersonal and interfamilial politics which have intended consequences in social relatedness quite outside of native title. The paper will present research into the practice of everyday relations and a micro-history of social action in corporate and bureaucratic contexts. In doing so, I seek in part to elaborate on recent discussions regarding the processes of affiliation and social differentiation among and between Aboriginal families.