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Hear from Summer May Finlay  how to talk about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

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Talking terminology for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

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Terms that are offensive and should not be used under any circumstances.

Abo

This abbreviation is disrespectful.

Aboriginal (as a noun)

This adjective needs to describe something, rather than stand alone.

Aborigine

This is outdated, and many Aboriginal peoples find it inappropriate.

ATSI

This acronym for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is not appropriate in writing or spoken ("at see").

Black

Ethinicity is not as simple as 'black' or 'white', so this kind of terminology becomes confusing, disrespectful, and hurtful.

Coloured

This terminology is more common in America, but is still not the preferred term of Indigenous peoples.

Half-caste

'Caste' refers to a class system that is no longer relevant, and suggests difference in personal worth. Describing an Aboriginal person of mixed ethnicity in this fashion is inappropriate.

When in doubt, work it out!

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Nowadays, as non-Indigenous Australians, we use specific terms to describe Aboriginal peoples. This is out of respect.

The best term to describe an Aboriginal person is the term they choose. i.e. He is a Wadjuk man, and a PhD student.

Indigenous: this is an adjective! When capitalised this term refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
'indigenous' (no capitalisation) means naturally occuring in an area. e.g. an indigenous plant is a native.

Aboriginal: this is an adjective! This means it describes nouns. e.g. Aboriginal student. When it refers to the first peoples of Australia it is capitalised.
'aboriginal' (no capitalisation) refers to the first or earliest known of its kind present in a region. e.g. aboriginal plants of the region.

Torres Strait Islander: this, naturally, refers to peoples of the Torres Strait Islands (Queensland). These three words are always capitalised.

For more, check out the Queensland Government's info sheet.