David I am in the same situation as Gwen, and I have been trying to find somebody in the Port Macquarie region to help me but have not been successful. Is there anyone or anything you can suggest helping find information on my family. Karen Bulli -----Original Message----- From: Pross Family <koori@iprimus.com.au> To: AUS-KOORI-L@rootsweb.com <AUS-KOORI-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, May 12, 2001 9:26 AM Subject: Re: [AUS-Koori] Proving aboriginality >Hi Gwen, > >I am the Chairperson of our Local Aboriginal Land Council, and we will only >accept people if they can prove their family line or have a member who knows >of the family and the person seeking acceptance. > >Cheers >David Pross > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Gwen Redman" <gwenr@bmr.net.au> >To: <AUS-KOORI-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2001 3:23 PM >Subject: [AUS-Koori] Proving aboriginality > > >> Perhaps this is a silly question, but perhaps someone will be kind enough >to answer it. >> Is there any way to prove aboriginal ancestry other than by tracing the >family line/s ? >> Thanks, >> Gwen >> >> >> ==== AUS-KOORI Mailing List ==== >> >> > > >==== AUS-KOORI Mailing List ==== > > > >

Hi everyone, I just wanted to offer some advice for those of you who need/want to explore or discount a Maori link in your families. I know that many people were told they were Maori rather than Koori. Some of the questions you could ask your family to find out if your link is Maori is to ask: What tribe? What area? Names, especially family names that may link back to a certain area in Aotearoa What canoe? (All Maori can link themselves back to one of the canoes that came in the great migration) On a historical basis Maori and Koori had links that predated colonisation (can you imagine the greatest seafaring race in the world NOT coming to at least trade over here?) Of course this information is strictly oral, therefore would not stand up to non-Indigenous academic scrutiny. There were also Maori ships/crews that traded across the Tasman. There was also supposed to be a seminary at Parramatta for Koori and Maori young men. This was allegedly linked to Samuel Marsden. There is a story in my family that Marsden kidnapped some of my ancestors (children) from the Hokianga (Nth Island) and brought them to Australia. When he was done with them he left them with the Dharug people. I hope this may help. ka kite ano Jo Kamira