The Australian Abo Call

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The Dreamtime is the period in which life was created according to Aboriginal culture. Dreaming is the word used to explain how life came to be; it is the stories and beliefs behind creation. It is called different names in different Aboriginal languages, such as: Ngarranggarni, Tjukula Jukurrpa.

‘Walkabout’ for many Aboriginal people is a contentious word and considered an archaic colonial term. Its use by non-Aboriginal people is considered inappropriate.

He had long planned to make a film of the novel Walkabout, in which the children are Americans stranded by a plane crash. After the indigenous boy finds and leads them to safety, he dies of influenza contracted from them, as he has not been immunised.

This term is considered outdated and highly offensive by many people across Australia. The word ‘black’ is used though, by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people amongst ourselves. However, many would find it offensive for a person who is not First Nations to use this expression.

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage is voluntary and very personal. You don’t need paperwork to identify as an Aboriginal person. However, you may be asked to provide confirmation when applying for Aboriginal-specific jobs, services or programs (for example grants).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people find the term offensive as it suggests that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia did not have a history before European invasion, because it is not written and recorded. It also denies a place for Aboriginal people in history.

Women traditionally played a central role within the Aboriginal family, within Aboriginal government and in spiritual ceremonies. Women were responsible for the domestic sphere and were viewed as both life-givers and the caretakers of life. As a result, women were responsible for the early socialization of children.

Perhaps you have copy of birth or marriage certificates of your parents or grandparents, or a certificate that traces your family to a particular Aboriginal station or reserve. You may have oral history stories that link to an area or person or even a photograph.

It seems mapping your DNA is all the rage, from family history research to crime scene forensics. But for Australian Aboriginal people, or those searching their family tree, a DNA test will not necessarily give you confirmation of an indigenous Australian heritage.

The Aboriginal Advisory Group of Community Legal Centres NSW recommends using ‘Aboriginal people’ or ‘Aboriginal person’ because these terms are “more positive and empowering”.

‘Indigenous peoples’ is a collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants. The term “Indigenous” is increasingly replacing the term “Aboriginal”, as the former is recognized internationally, for instance with the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The term ‘First Nations’ can be applied to individuals, but, technically refers only to those who have Indian status under Canadian law as part of a recognized community. Many Aboriginal people in Canada do not have this formal connection, and those who are Métis or Inuit should never be referred to as ‘First Nations.

What is the correct terminology: American Indian, Indian, Native American, or Native? All of these terms are acceptable. The consensus, however, is that whenever possible, Native people prefer to be called by their specific tribal name.

Which should you use? Generally speaking, both “American Indian” and “Native American” are OK to use. Both refer to the Indigenous peoples of America.

Turtle Island is a name for Earth or North America, used by some Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States, as well as by some Indigenous rights activists.

— The Navajo Nation has by far the largest land mass of any Native American tribe in the country. Now, it’s boasting the largest enrolled population, too.

On September 9, 1776, the Continental Congress formally declares the name of the new nation to be the “United States” of America. This replaced the term “United Colonies,” which had been in general use.

America is named after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci.

The Spanish were among the first Europeans to explore the New World and the first to settle in what is now the United States. By 1650, however, England had established a dominant presence on the Atlantic coast. The first colony was founded at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607.