Indigenous glossary

Understanding and using Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander terms at Deakin

Deakin campuses are built on the traditional lands of the Wadawurrung people of the Geelong region, the Wurundjeri people of the greater Melbourne region, and the Peek Whurrong people of the Warrnambool region.

At Deakin, we are committed to Reconciliation and Treaty, advancing the educational aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and moving Indigenous Knowledges into the mainstream of Australian life. All our endeavours aim to reflect Australia’s full history and seek to build an inclusive future.

The below information will give you some background and context about Indigenous history and how to ensure you’re being culturally appropriate and respectful. Our A–Z of Indigenous terms gives you specific guidance on a range of commonly used words and relevant references.

What you should know

Cultural identity

Indigenous Australians are people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, and are accepted as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person in the community in which they live or have lived.

There is great diversity within these two broadly described groups. Around 145 Indigenous Australian languages are spoken today and 60 of those are in regular use as a first language. There are around 50,000 Indigenous Australians whose first language learned at home is an Indigenous Australian language.

Aboriginal people may refer to themselves in relation to the greater region they’re connected to (for example, as Koori, Murri or Nunga), or directly link to their language groups and traditional country (a specific geographic location – for example, ‘the Gadigal people of the Eora nation’).

Another way Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people might describe themselves is ‘saltwater people’ for those who live on the coast, or ‘freshwater’, ‘rainforest’, ‘desert’ or ‘spinifex’ for people who live in that ecological environment.

Torres Strait Islander people prefer to use the name of their home island to identify themselves to outsiders; for example, a Saibai man or woman is from Saibai, or a Meriam person is from Mer.

It’s a mark of respect to be as specific about someone’s cultural identity as possible.

Images of a deceased Indigenous person

If you’re writing about an Indigenous person who has passed away, be aware that in many areas of Indigenous Australia reproducing names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community. There is a widespread practice of modifying a deceased person’s name or using a circumlocution (for example, ‘the old man who painted’).

If you’re unsure, you should avoid using a deceased person’s name unless you’ve received explicit permission from the person’s community and/or family prior to publishing.

When using imagery including photos and videos, you should include a warning for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People/s that material may contain the image or voice of people who have passed away.

Strengths-based language

Aim to use empowering, strengths-based language, and avoid perpetuating, patronising or paternalistic rhetoric that emphasises a perceived deficit in Indigenous communities. For example, rather than ‘helping disadvantaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students’, a more strengths-based alternative would be ‘providing meaningful opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to achieve their full potential’.

Telling the right stories

Context is everything

Sometimes people will use terms about themselves or their friends that may be considered inappropriate and derogatory when used by others. For example, Indigenous Australians might use ‘blackfella’ to refer to other people of Indigenous Australian identity, or ‘mob’ to refer to a group of Indigenous Australians associated with a particular place or country. These are not terms that are generally appropriate for non-Indigenous Australians to use.

Stereotypes

Inclusion happens when people feel their whole self is understood, respected and included, and they aren’t seen as a one-dimensional stereotype. For example:

Indigenous Australians don’t all live in outback Australia – fewer than one-quarter live in remote areas.
There is no common Indigenous culture – there are hundreds of different nations, language groups, distinct cultural differences, practices and customs.
Indigenous Australians have all shades of skin colour.
Non-Indigenous Australians are more likely to be heavy drinkers than Indigenous Australians. The proportion of Indigenous Australians who do not drink any alcohol is around twice that of non-Indigenous Australians.

In the workplace, such stereotyping can encourage the belief that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are only suited to particular occupations (such as sports or the arts) or unlikely to be skilled in particular roles (such as management, finance, or technology). While stereotypes may seem relatively harmless, they still offend, patronise and over-simplify real life and lead to conscious or unconscious biases. Even seemingly ‘positive’ stereotypes fail to recognise individual differences among members of an entire community or group.

Capitalisation

The words ‘Indigenous’ and ‘Aboriginal’ are always capitalised when referring to Australian Aboriginal People and should never be abbreviated.

Capitalisation conventions are often also considered appropriate to extend to terms such as:

First Peoples/Nations/Australian.
Elders.
Traditional Owners/Custodians.
Country (and corresponding terms such as ‘Land,’ when it is used in place of ‘Country’), as well as the names of language groups or geo-cultural communities.
Acknowledgement of Country, Welcome to Country and the names of other cultural practices (particularly if the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander meanings or perspectives behind the words used to describe the practices – such as ‘acknowledge’ or ‘welcome’ – may be distinct to their English definitions or connotations).