Humbug (Aboriginal) facts for kids
In Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, humbug is a slang term. It means making demands that are not fair or are too much from family or other people you know.
Sharing resources is a common cultural practice among Aboriginal communities. However, "humbugging" has a negative meaning. It is different from the strong traditions of sharing and community spirit that Aboriginal culture is built on. Humbugging can cause family arguments and stress. It can also lead to people taking things without permission or causing serious disagreements. Not responding to these demands can sometimes lead to more trouble.
Humbugging happens for many reasons. These include the economic and cultural situations in Aboriginal communities. It is also linked to taking advantage of older people, especially when it comes to their money. Banks, financial groups, and government studies have all looked into the issue of humbugging.
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What is Humbug?
In general English, "humbug" means something or someone dishonest or misleading. It can also mean talk or actions meant to trick someone. For example, in Charles Dickens' story A Christmas Carol, the character Ebenezer Scrooge says "Bah! Humbug!" to show he is annoyed.
However, in Australian Aboriginal English, "humbug" is used more broadly. It refers to annoying or bothering someone. While there is no single, agreed-upon meaning, it can be understood as making unfair demands from family or friends in a bothersome way. The term can also mean demands that are repeated and sometimes come with threats if they are not met.
Why Does Humbug Happen?
The reasons for humbugging are complex. They can include the economic and cultural situations of Aboriginal communities. Cultural traditions of sharing wealth can sometimes put financial stability at risk. While sharing can be a positive way to support others, it can also lead to more money worries. Older Aboriginal people might feel pressured to help others financially because of family ties. This can put them at risk of having their money taken advantage of.
Sharing and Money
Demand sharing, also called community obligation, is a big part of Aboriginal communities. It involves strong family connections and duties. In Indigenous culture, sharing is based on a strong sense of community. It is a traditional act that helps keep social relationships strong. It is also based on giving and receiving and mutual kindness.
However, Western money systems are quite new to this traditional idea of sharing. Because of this, sharing money has become a new way of traditional resource sharing. It is used to show support and care for family and the wider community. Western money systems and traditional sharing are very different. These differences can lead to problems like humbugging. Humbugging reflects traditional Aboriginal cultural practices. But it can also lead to people taking advantage of family needs and the sharing that is valued in Indigenous culture, especially for older people.
Also, the meaning of humbugging is not always clear. What some communities see as acceptable humbugging might be more serious problems for others. For example, one study found that giving cash or paying for goods was seen as a cultural norm. This means more research is needed to understand how Aboriginal communities view wealth, sharing, and their money situation.
Understanding Financial Challenges
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face many challenges. These include not having enough access to or knowledge about traditional financial services. They might also not trust the financial services available, or find them too expensive. Because of the cultural expectations of sharing, certain types of financial problems can arise.
This highlights the need for financial products that fit with the culture and values of traditional family relationships and sharing. This could mean financial services helping to increase financial literacy in Aboriginal communities. It could also mean providing clearer explanations in simple English. It is important to match cultural perspectives when giving financial advice to Indigenous people.
Family Worries and Support
Family humbug is also a major concern for Aboriginal communities. A survey about Aboriginal family support and well-being found that family arguments about money, food, and difficult family relations were key tensions. One way to help with family arguments and humbug has been motivational counselling. This approach helps address worries in a complete way and can be adapted for different cultures. This method has been successful, but it often depends on the support from the family around the person.
There are also long-standing system-wide issues that lead to humbugging. Indigenous households often face much more serious money worries compared to non-Indigenous households. To help Indigenous people in the long term, steady and gradual changes to these systems are needed.
How Are People Addressing Humbug?
Government and Community Efforts
In Western Australia, a special committee looked into taking advantage of older people financially. They focused on humbugging. Their study looked at what the Commonwealth Government and State Government could do. It also looked at the role of authorities like the Police and Child Protection in dealing with humbugging.
The Commonwealth Government has taken various steps. These include strategies like managing income in different ways, such as with Cashless Debit Cards. However, there are still limits at the state level. If humbugging does not fit the legal definitions of family trouble, then state government strategies might not apply.
Even with these prevention strategies, they are not always the most effective. A small study in the Northern Territory found that many people had trouble understanding and using the BasicsCard, which is like a Cashless Debit Card. They felt it did not help them financially or change their spending. While some people in the survey said it helped reduce humbugging, this might not be true for everyone. Overall, income management can help reduce financial problems and humbugging, but it cannot completely stop them.
Support from community groups has also been important in dealing with humbugging. This is because humbugging has a broad definition and does not always fit a specific crime. The Kimberley Community Legal Services is an example of an independent, non-profit group. They offer free legal and financial advice to people in need across the Kimberley region. In 2020, they released a report on financial issues affecting older people and humbugging.
Banks and Money Help
Banks and financial groups have started several projects to address humbugging. These include reports on financial strength and fairness, and the general economic situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. These reports help people understand humbugging better. Both the Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank have worked with universities or research groups to release such reports.
One report by the National Australia Bank and the University of New South Wales found big economic differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Australia. A survey showed that only 1 in 10 Indigenous Australians feel financially secure. Almost half (48.8%) experience serious money worries. This is much higher than the general population, where only 11% experience the same level of stress. This means Indigenous people face financial stress and insecurity much more often.
Humbug in Music
Humbugging has also appeared in music and popular culture. The Warumpi Band, an Australian Aboriginal rock band from the Northern Territory, released a 1996 album called Too Much Humbug. One song from that album, “Stompin’ Ground”, was nominated for "Best Indigenous Release" at the 1997 ARIA Awards.
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