Is there any other country which allows

the "indigenous" population to "self-identify"?

The reality in this country is that I could call myself "aboriginal" and seek the financial and other benefits of being "aboriginal" and it would be difficult for anyone else to deny me those benefits or refuse to acknowledge my claim. Indeed I could go further and claim they were "racist" and seek damages.

The story of Bruce Pascoe is surely one of the ultimate reasons why "self-identification" is something that needs to be questioned. Here is someone who has made a career and a name for himself by claiming to be "aboriginal". His ancestry has been researched by others and no evidence for his claim can be found. Despite that he holds a "chair" at a leading university in something he claims is indigenous agriculture. The claims he makes about such agriculture have been shown to be false but he continues to hold the chair and teach his supposed findings. The university is aware of all this and has done nothing. All this makes a mockery of any claims about academic rigor.

For some reason the government has not stepped in either and said, "You are not aboriginal and what you are teaching is nonsense."  Pascoe actually has the support of the present Prime Minister. He has even labelled Pascoe's work "marvellous".  

I know of no academic, not even an indigenous academic, who agrees but perhaps they remain silent out of fear for their present and future research grants.

At least some of this could be avoided if some form of "proof" was asked for. In some instances there is a requirement for people calling themselves "aboriginal" to be accepted by groups also calling themselves aboriginal. Is that sufficient? Of course not. It needs much more than that.

"But", we are told, "It is too difficult to prove because of poor record keeping." Really? Yes, record keeping was often very poor but is it that poor? If all your ancestors can be shown to have been born in another country altogether how does that make you "aboriginal"? Why are you permitted to go on calling yourself that? 

My friend M... has never had a government hand out. He has never needed one or wanted one. Yes, I know he is an exception. His family were and are exceptional. All of the above however angers him because he knows there are aboriginal people who could really benefit from the programs and policies intended to benefit them. It often does not happen because others who are in no way genuinely disadvantaged take advantage of "self identification" and take what they can. 

Perhaps it is for this reason alone that there needs to something other than self-identification?