Indigenous, First Nations, Aboriginal – Which one is it?

Have you ever been confused about what the right term is for Indigenous Australians?

Perhaps you’ve not had the chance to learn and accidentally used the words like “tribal”, “native” or “Aborigine” in an assignment and been completely obliterated for it.

Well, keep reading to find out.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the traditional custodians of the lands in Australia. Generally, if you want to refer to us as a collective, “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples” is best. In the context of a collective, please don’t only use “Aboriginal”, because this lack of inclusivity makes Torres Strait Islander people feel forgotten. You can also use “First Nations” when referring to us as a whole.

The word “Indigenous” is accepted by many and is often used in professional or government contexts. However, it also has some negative connotations from when it was first implemented as the ‘right word’ to use. Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people do not accept the word “Indigenous” and prefer the two above.

As mentioned above, please remember to name both groups when talking about First Nations people as a collective. However, if you’re only talking about Aboriginal peoples, it is totally ok to not do so. The same goes if you’re only talking about Torres Strait Islander peoples. Everything depends on the context you’re speaking in, and who you’re talking about. For example, when acknowledging country, you pay your respects to the group of people who are the traditional custodians of the land. Here in Adelaide, we pay our respects to the Kaurna people. Learning the names of the language groups shows respect and it is important to educate yourself on the land on which you live.

It’s important to know the name of the city you’re living in and its traditional owners. Adelaide is called Tarndanya. I’m currently living in Melbourne, called Naarm. Here in Melbourne, the city is located across multiple lands. I work on the lands of the Wurundjeri people but live on the border of the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung lands.

To our international friends, First Nations people are BLAK not BLACK. Blak is our skin, our blood and our identity. The impacts of colonisation and the stolen generations have meant that some of us are “white-passing” but regardless of our skin colour, our blood remains blak. Our eyes, noses, hair, bodies and souls remain blak. You may have heard the analogy about tea. No matter how much milk you put in it, it is still tea. No matter how much the colonisers tried to breed the blak out of us, we are still blak.

In saying the above, it’s important to remind yourselves of the incredible diversity amongst First Nations people in Australia. Aboriginal people are made up of hundreds of cultural groups. Each with their own customs and traditions. Similarly, Torres Strait Islander people have different nations across the islands.

So when you do talk about us, keep all of the above in mind. And if there’s something you don’t know or understand, take time to educate yourself.