Indigenous peoples of Australia - terminology sources[edit]

[Lead paragraph] This article gives an overview of the topic by summarising the recommendations or style guides offered by a number of reputable sources.

Definitions[edit]

As per those articles listed in the sources which provide such definitions (composite):

Which terms to use?[edit]

ABS

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been included in the 5-yearly census since 1971.[3]

Australian Bureau of Statistics' definition of Indigenous: "The term Indigenous is used in this publication to refer to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All ABS Indigenous population statistics are based on responses to the ABS standard question for Indigenous identification, which is used in self-enumerated collections. The same Census question has been used to determine Indigenous status (but not its component peoples) since the 1981 Census."[3]

Since 1996, the person has been asked whether they are of either Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, both or none.[3]

ABC

Summary of ABC guidelines:[4]

ACTOSS (ACT Council of Social Services)

What may have seemed acceptable terminology in the past, can be considered extremely offensive today, and preferences can vary across Australia for individuals, communities and agencies.[2]

When specifically referring to Aboriginal peoples or topics, your communications should reflect this, e.g. Aboriginal art, rather than Indigenous art, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

AIATSIS

Summary of AIATSIS guidelines:[7]

Creative Spirits website

This website contains general guidance and citations from other sources. It quotes the Aboriginal-owned newspaper Koori Mail, which tries to be as specific as possible when writing about Aboriginal people, recommending the following hierarchy in descending order of preference:[8]

According to some respected academics, even terms such as "urban", "traditional" or "of Indigenous descent" may be seen as racist when defining or categorising Aboriginal people.[8]

Monash University

Summary of Monash University's guidelines:[9]

NSW Health

List:[10]

Queensland Health

QUT

Queensland University of Technology guidelines.[11][12]

Reconciliation Australia – Narragunnawali

"Narragunnawali supports all schools and early learning services in Australia to develop environments that foster a high level of knowledge and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions... Narragunnawali is a program of Reconciliation Australia. Reconciliation Australia is an independent, national not-for-profit organisation promoting reconciliation by building stronger relationships, respect and trust between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."[13] Summary of guidelines:[14]

Style dos and don'ts[edit]

ABC

ACTOSS (ACT Council of Social Services)

AIATSIS

Monash University

Summary of style:[9]

NSW Health

List:[10]

Queensland Health

Reconciliation Australia – Narragunnawali

Additional style guidelines:[14]

Capitalisation:

Related terminology[16][edit]

NSW Health

The following terms related to some Aboriginal Australian and some Torres Strait Islander cultures also need care.[10]

Creative Spirits website

The site also refers to certain "toxic labels".[8]

It also makes suggestions about a variety of other terms, such as:[8]

It has a separate page dedicated to detailed guidance on various terminology.[17]

Global considerations[edit]

Canada

The first paragraph of Indigenous peoples in Canada (referenced here as the country most like the Australian experience) as of 17 July 2020 says:

Indigenous peoples of Canada[18] (also known as Aboriginal Canadians, Native Canadians, or First Peoples)[19] are the Indigenous peoples[Note 2] within the boundaries of Canada. They comprise the First Nations,[22] Inuit[23] and Métis.[24] Although "Indian" is a term still commonly used in legal documents, the descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have somewhat fallen into disuse in Canada, and some consider them to be pejorative.[25][19] "Aboriginal" as a collective noun is a specific term of art used in some legal documents, including the Constitution Act, 1982, though in some circles that word is also falling into disfavour.[26][21]

Other North and South American countries

Indigenous peoples of the Americas has links to other articles from various regions and countries, variously Native Americans in the United States, Alaska Natives, Indigenous peoples of Mexico, etc. – but these do not necessarily have a bearing on the Australian situation.

Library tools[edit]

This section is intended to cover notes relating to how librarians in Australia have classified and/or referred to the topic, by means of controlled vocabularies of various types, including authority control records.

Reference works

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands were apparently uninhabited at the time of settlement, although the descendants of the Cocos Malays who were brought to the islands by the first settler, Alexander Hare, are as of 2019 seeking recognition from the Australian Federal Government to be acknowledged as Indigenous Australians.[1]
  2. ^ Indigenous has been capitalized in keeping with the style guide of the Government of Canada.[20] The capitalization also aligns with the style used within the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In the Canadian context, Indigenous is capitalized when discussing peoples, beliefs or communities in the same way European or Canadian is used to refer to non-Indigenous topics or people.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Herriman, Nicholas; Irving, David R.M.; Acciaioli, Greg; Winarnita, Monika; Kinajil, Trixie Tangit (25 June 2018). "A group of Southeast Asian descendants wants to be recognised as Indigenous Australians". The Conversation. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b Preferences in terminology when referring to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples (PDF). Gulanga Good Practice Guides. ACT Council of Social Service Inc. December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "4713.0 - Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2006: Explanatory notes". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  4. ^ a b "ABC Indigenous Content". ABC Editorial Policies. Editorial Guidance Note. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  5. ^ Note:Added "Australian", as WP needs to operate in the global context.
  6. ^ "The ABC Style Guide". ABC. About the ABC. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Indigenous Australians: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people". Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. 21 Mar 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d "How to name Aboriginal people?". Creative Spirits.
  9. ^ a b "Inclusive language". Monash University. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  10. ^ a b c NSW Government. Centre for Aboriginal Health (1 July 2019). "Communicating Positively: A Guide to Appropriate Aboriginal Terminology" (PDF). New South Wales Government. Health. ISBN 978-1-76081-184-6. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  11. ^ Queensland University of Technology. Indigenous Education and Employment Committee (1 April 2015). "Recommended Guidelines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Terminology [Quick Guide]" (PDF).
  12. ^ "Library guides: Indigenous studies: Home". Library guides at QUT. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  13. ^ "About". Narragunnawali. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Terminology Guide". Narragunnawali. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  15. ^ Note: For WP, change to "except when quoting"?
  16. ^ Note: Blue links have been provided partly to check the linked-to term in Wikipedia and where necessary add info related to Aboriginal or Indigenous Australians.
  17. ^ "Appropriate words & terminology for Aboriginal topics". Creative Spirits.
  18. ^ Todorova, Miglena (2016). "Co-Created Learning: Decolonizing Journalism Education in Canada". Canadian Journal of Communication. 41: 673–92.
  19. ^ a b Olson, James Stuart; Pappas, Nicholas Charles (1994). An Ethnohistorical dictionary of the Russian and Soviet empires. Connecticut Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-27497-8.
  20. ^ "14.12 Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Stereotyping, Identification of Groups". Translation Bureau. Public Works and Government Services Canada. 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  21. ^ a b McKay, Celeste (April 2015). "Briefing Note on Terminology". University of Manitoba. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  22. ^ "Civilization.ca-Gateway to Aboriginal Heritage-Culture". Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. Government of Canada. May 12, 2006. Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  23. ^ "Inuit Circumpolar Council (Canada)-ICC Charter". Inuit Circumpolar Council > ICC Charter and By-laws > ICC Charter. 2007. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  24. ^ Todd, Thornton & Collins 2001, p. 10.
  25. ^ "Words First An Evolving Terminology Relating to Indigenous peoples in Canada". Communications Branch of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. 2004. Archived from the original on November 14, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  26. ^ "Native American, First Nations or Aboriginal? | Druide". www.druide.com. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  27. ^ "What is SCIS? – SCIS". SCIS – News, updates and issues in school libraries. 30 December 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  28. ^ Beilharz, Renate (1 June 2020). "Acknowledging Indigenous communities and culture in SCIS Data". SCIS. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  29. ^ "Aboriginal Australians [subject heading search]". University of Melbourne. University Library Catalogue. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  30. ^ "Torres Strait Islander [subject heading search]". University of Melbourne. University Library Catalogue. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  31. ^ "Indigenous Australians [subject heading search]". University of Melbourne. University Library Catalogue. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  32. ^ "Indigenous peoples -- Australia [list of items under this subject heading]". University of Melbourne. University Library Catalogue. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  33. ^ "Australian extension to LCSH". Libraries Australia. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  34. ^ "Subject guide - Ethical Protocols for Working with Indigenous Australians". Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  35. ^ Arthur, William Stewart; Morphey, Francis; Dodson, Patrick L. (2019), Macquarie Atlas of Indigenous Australia (Second ed.), Macquarie, ISBN 978-1-76078-694-6. Melbourne Uni cat entry

Sources[edit]

Cited inline

A few notes from other sources[edit]

Some brief notes from other sources:

"First Nations": sources