Terminology
In regard to the terms used in this site, in general, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander will be used specifically. The term Indigenous will be used as a broad term to describe common aspects and will be otherwise confined to certain areas of discussion or where the term is used as part of a quote.

Although the website will focus mainly on Aboriginal concepts and experiences many of the general principles apply to both groups, and where available, specific references for Torres Strait Islanders will be included.

Indigenous Australians
The term indigenous is used to refer to the first peoples or original people to inhabit an area. Australia has two Indigenous peoples, Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders. The two broad groups are quite distinct from each other with different cultures and histories but have common experiences of colonisation in relation to oppressive and restrictive legislation, racism and the struggle for land and self-determination. There have been some concerns expressed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about the use of the term 'Indigenous' in the Australian context, as it is seen as once again trying to impose a collective identity, subsuming Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders under a single term. However, the term 'Indigenous' is appropriately used in an international context or when talking about the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Aboriginal
Aboriginal refers to cultures and people originating from mainland Australia, Tasmania and smaller islands such as Fraser Island, Palm Island and Bathurst and Melville Islands. Although accepted as a general definition, Aboriginal is an imposed term that covers many distinct groups (e.g. Aranda, Warlpiri, Worimi, Yorta Yorta.)

For more information, click here.

Torres Strait Islander
Torres Strait Islander refers to cultures and people originating from the islands of the Torres Strait (eg Muralag, Saibai, Badu) and the northern tip of Cape York. Torres Strait Islander culture has similarities to both those of Aboriginal Australia and Papua New Guinea. Many Torres Strait Islander people live now on mainland Australia. While Torres Strait Islander cultures share some similarities with Aboriginal cultures, it is important to recognise Torres Strait Islander peoples as a culturally distinct group.

For more information, click here.

While the terms "Aboriginal peoples" and "Torres Strait Islander" may be appropriate to use, it is important to remember that they are collective terms and improperly impose a single identity on a whole group. Under no circumstances should Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people be directly referred to by the acronym 'ATSI' people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people generally prefer to be called by the language or cultural group to which they belong. For example some groups in NSW generally prefer the term Koori or Murri where in Central Australia Anangu is preferred and in Arnhem Land (NT) Yolgnu is preferred. Within these general terms, Aboriginal peoples will have further specific identifications based on country/language group.

It is important that you always check with the local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community as to the correct name/term to use for Aboriginal and Torres Strait people in the area/region.

Tribal map at colonisation: http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/page/default.asp?site=2&page=TIN_Tribal

Racial Classification
Australia, through legislation and administrative practice, has a long history of racial classification and labelling Aboriginal people based on skin colour, facial features, and 'percentage of Aboriginal blood'. Historically these were expressed as fractional terms such as 'half-caste', 'quarter caste' or 'quadroon', 'one eighth' or 'octoroon' and extended to such absurd fractions as 'one-one hundred and twenty-eighth caste (1/128)'. The allocation of an Aboriginal person to a particular classification was arbitrary, often decided by a local magistrate or police officer merely 'on sight', and varied from state to state (or territory). Terms classifying parts of an individual's racial or cultural background, for example 'part-Aboriginal', have typically been used in a derogatory way and further isolate a person from belonging to any group as well as artificially dividing communities from "urban" to "traditional." There have also been a variety of other terms used to describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and in general most are derogatory in nature, imply inferiority and are discriminatory.

Such terms are not acceptable, and should not be used.

International context
Indigenous peoples is a term increasingly used in the international political arena and the United Nations estimates in the world there are at least 5000 indigenous groups composed of over 300 million people living in more than 70 countries on five continents.

Although there have been many attempts to define who is "Indigenous", the most widely accepted definition is that used by the United Nations. To read the United Nations declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples Click here.