Aboriginal Peoples of the Lands Now Known as Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Term	Contextual note	Time/Region	References
Abo/s Abbo/s	Originally used by Aboriginal peoples in Australia until it came to be used in a derogatory way around the 1950s. There is no proper abbreviation for “Aboriginal Australians”, which should not be shortened in any circumstance.	1950-, Australia	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs [1] Owl apps – List of ethnic slurs by ethnicity [[ Nathan Sentance Kadir O.
Aboriginal/s aboriginal/s The Aboriginals The Aboriginal people	Primarily used to refer to Indigenous peoples in Australia, Canada, and Taiwan (Taiwanese Aboriginals), although with a lowercase “a” the term can be used to denote people, plants, or animals indigenous to any land. Most Aboriginal people in the lands now known as Australia do not identify as “Australian”. If linguistic/nation identity is unknown, simply “Aboriginal”’ is preferred. Australia should be denoted as their location rather than as their nationality. Note that the LOCSH still use the term “Aboriginal Australians”. In Canada, however, there is now a preference for the use of Indigenous, with a capital “I”. The various Indigenous communities in both Australia and Canada prefer to emphasise other markers of their identity such as language, land, and clan relationships. The term “Aboriginal” has been criticised for being homogenising. The term also does not include the Torres Strait Islands people, who are a distinct and separate group (made up of many distinct groups). In Australia, Aboriginal peoples (with a capital “A”) and Torres Strait Islander peoples are acceptable terms if their specific linguistic or national identity is unknown. It should be used as an adjective, not a noun. Sometimes, “First Nations” is preferred. The phrasing “the Aboriginals” and “the Aboriginal people” are deemed less appropriate, as it implies they are all the same. *Reminder: capitalise “Aboriginal” in the Australian context.*	Australia, Canada, Taiwan	Tropenmuseum – Words Matter Nathan Sentence Kadir O. University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols Flinders University – Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples [2]
aborigine/s The Aborigines aborrigine/s	The term “aborigine” was commonly used up to the 1960s, but it is now regarded as outdated and discriminatory.	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
amalgamation	In regards to Aotearoa, the term “amalgamation” was used in British circles in the 19th century to promote interracial mixture between white men and Māori women. The promotion of miscegenation was rooted in problematic theories of “hybrid vigour”  and desires to exterminate Māori people through intermarriage. This language appears, for example, in documents related to the New Zealand Company and Scots New Zealand Land Company, as well as missionary societies.	Aotearoa, mixed-race history	Carissa Chew - British colonial constructions of the “half-caste” category in world-historical perspective [3]
ancient tradition/al	Terms like “ancient” or “traditional” imply that First Nation culture belongs in the past and is not part of the contemporary modern world. This can create a false dichotomy between First Nations people and modernity and perpetuates a myth that First Nations culture is stagnant and never-changing. In contrast, Western scientific practices are rarely referred to as “traditional”.	Australia
Aotearoa New Zealand	Aotearoa is the preferred Māori-language name for New Zealand today, and it is respectful to use this term, at minimum in addition to if not in lieu of “New Zealand”. Since the late 1900s, the bilingual use of both “Aotearoa” and “New Zealand” became widespread among national organisations and institutions.	Aotearoa, New Zealand	Wikipedia – Aeotearoa [4]
ATSI	This acronym for “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander” should be avoided as it is generally considered homogenising and disrespectful.	Australia
Ayers Rock	Uluru is the Aboriginal name for this significant site in Central Australia which should be respected and recognised. This recognition of Indigenous Australia is fundamental to social justice. Ayers Rock was a European name imposed on a section of Aboriginal Country.	Australia	Flinders University – Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples [5]
Black	Many Māori and Pasifika people identified as Black in the 20th century, i.e. the Polynesian Panthers Movement	Aotearoa, 20th century	Robbie Shilliam, The Black Pacific: Anticolonial Struggles and Oceanic Connections (London: Bloomsbury, 2015)
blacks	Derogatory term for Aboriginal peoples	Australia	Flinders University – Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples [6]
blackfella/s blackfellah/s blackfulla/s black fella/s black fellah/s	Only acceptable when used by Aboriginal peoples to refer to themselves.	Australia
blood quantum part-Aboriginal mixed blood/s mixed-blood/s full blood full-blood/s half-caste/s half caste/s quarter-caste/s quarter caste/s octoroon/s mulatto/s/es hybrid/s	Terms like “part-Aboriginal”, “mixed blood”, “full blood”, “half-caste”, “quarter-caste”, etc. are considered offensive. You should never quantify to what degree a person is Aboriginal based on their bloodline or skin colour. Also see “half-caste”.	Australia, mixed race history	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols Carissa Chew - British colonial constructions of the “half-caste” category in world-historical perspective [7]
boat people	The term usually refers to the Southeast Asians who tried to migrate to Australia by sailing in boats, especially after the Vietnam War. It is sometimes used negatively towards Australians of Southeast Asian descent.	Australia, Southeast Asia
boong/s bong/s bung/s	Pejorative for Aboriginal people in Australia, first used in 1857 by JD Lang. “Bung” was English slang for “dead” or “dysfunctional”, from which it originates.	Australia
boonga/s bunga/s boonie	Derogatory term used in New Zealand to refer to Pacific Islanders.	New Zealand, Pacific Islands	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs [8]
Chief/s Kings Queens	Aboriginal people did not, and do not have chiefs, kings and queens. See Elders (below). The introduction of “kings” or “queens” was a colonial strategy to raise up individuals for the authorities to deal with. Colonial governments had no experience of dealing with the structures of Indigenous societies, and this was a way of trying to make Aboriginal societies conform to English experience of chiefs in other countries. It was a way of honouring individual status, but there was usually an element of mockery e.g. such names as “King Billy” or “Queen Gooseberry”.. Note however that many Aboriginal people who are descended from colonially appointed “kings” and “queens” are proud of this ancestry.	Australia	Flinders University – Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples [9]
coloured/s	Derogatory term for Aboriginal peoples	Australia	Flinders University – Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples [10]
coon/s	As well as being a pejorative term for people of African heritage in the USA (and beyond), the term “coon” is a derogatory term for Aboriginal Australians	Australia, USA
Country	The term “Country” describes the area of land associated with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander nation, clan or culturally distinct group. In addition to referring to a physical location, “Country” can also infer the cultural relationship a group has with the land, and its responsibilities to care for the land. Country when used in this context should always be capitalised. *Reminder: capitalise “Country” in the Australian context*	Australia
Deceased persons	Material containing the names, images, and voices of deceased people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities require a content warning, as may cause sadness or distress.	Australia	Wikipedia – Australian Aboriginal avoidance practices [11]
discovered	Do not perpetuate the narrative that Captain Cook “discovered” Australia. He was the first Englishman to map the east coast of “New Holland”.	Australia	Flinders University – Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples [12]
Dreaming Dream Time Creation Time	“The Dreaming” or “The Dreamings” are preferred terms. “Dream Time” is less appropriate because it implies it is a period of time that has finished.	Australia	Flinders University – Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples [13]
Elder/s (of the past and present)	An Aboriginal Australian Elder is someone recognised within their community as a custodian of cultural knowledge and law. It should be noted that age isn’t a prerequisite and doesn’t automatically make someone an Elder. The important thing is that the community recognises the individual as an Elder. “Elder” used in this context should always be capitalised. Some Aboriginal Australians believe the elders of the past (the deceased elders) can still offer guidance to their people, and hence it is important to recognise both Elders of the past and present.	Australia	Australians Together – Connecting Locally with Indigenous Communities [14] Kadir O.
First Australians	Generally not preferred as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples predate “Australia” by thousands of years. Use “First Nations” instead.	Australia
First Nation/s First People/s	Alongside “Aboriginal Australians” and “Indigenous Asutralians”,, “First Nations” is sometimes a preferred term for Indigenous people in the lands now known as Australia. It is more commonly used by Indigenous peoples in Canada, however. The term “First Peoples” is less commonly used in Australia. *Reminder: capitalise “First Nations” in the Australian context*	Australia, Canada	Kadir O.
gin/s lubra	Derogatory and racist terms for Aboriginal women in Australia.	Australia, women’s history	Owl apps – List of ethnic slurs by ethnicity [15] The Racial Slur Database - Gin [16]
gin jockey/s	Pejorative for a white man having a sexual relationship with an Aboriginal woman in Australia	Australia	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs [17]
half-caste/s	The term “half-caste” was introduced to Australia and Aotearoa in the early 19th century, with derogatory implications. Also see “amalgamation”. Most notoriously, the construction of the “half-caste” category played a role in the justification of the forced removal of the Stolen Generations from their families in Australia, which began in 1869 but continued until 1969. The Aboriginal Protection Act of 1886 in Victoria was commonly known as the “Half Caste Act”.	Australia, Aotearoa, mixed-race history	Carissa Chew - British colonial constructions of the “half-caste” category in world-historical perspective [18]
hori	Derogatory term for the Māori by European New Zealanders	Aotearoa	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs [19]
Indigenous	Similar to the term “Aboriginal”, “Indigenous” (with a capital “I”) is still used quite widely but is perceived by some as a homogenising term. It is inclusive of both Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The term “Indigenous” is still used by the Australian Commonwealth Government.	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
Knowledge/s	When discussing First Nations science or epistemology, “knowledges” should be pluralised. This is to reflect diversity by acknowledging the existence of more than “a single homogenous body” of Indigenous-derived information. Only use the singular “knowledge” if you are referring to a specific element of First Nations knowledges.	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
Muri Goori Koori Palawa Nunga Yolngu Anangu Noongar	These are the preferred geographical identities of some Aboriginal peoples in Australia. For example, an Aboriginal person from New South Wales living in Queensland may self-identify as “Koori” rather than “Aboriginal”. ●     Murri – Queensland, north west New South Wales ●     Noongar/Nyoongah – south west Western Australia ●     Koori – New South Wales • Goori – north coast New South Wales ●     Koorie – Victoria ●     Yolngu – Arnhem Land, Northern Territory ●     Anangu – Central Australia ●     Palawa – Tasmania ●     Nunga (not always a more appropriate term* see below) – South Australia ●     Ngarrindjeri – SA - River Murray, Lakes, Coorong people ●     Torres Strait Island Peoples ●     Murray Island Peoples ●      Mer Island Peoples There are also local names for particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language groups, for example “Gamilaroy” (NSW) or “Pitjantjatjara”  (NT/SA).	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols Flinders University – Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples [20]
mythology/ies myth/s story/ies folklore legend/s	Terms such as “myth”, “mythology”, or “story” give the impression that information from Dreaming (see above) is not true or is trivial, only happened in the distant past, or that they are fairy tales rather than creation stories. Generally, we do not use these terms to describe the creation stories of other religions.	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
Nation/s	It is common for Aboriginal people to introduce both their nation and their clan group.	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
native/s	Avoid using the term “native” to describe First Nations people. It is considered dehumanising, and only acceptable when referring to flara/fauna.	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
Nunga	Some people use ‘Nunga’ in general reference to Indigenous peoples who reside in and around the area of Adelaide. Many Indigenous South Australians prefer people not to presume the right to use their word “Nunga”.	Australia, Adelaide	Flinders University – Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples [21]
Our/s	It is disliked when (white) Australians refer to Aboriginal people as “ours”. First Nations peoples do not belong to anybody.		Nathan Sentance
Pākehā	Māori-language term for white New Zealanders, or to connote a “selfish person” in the present day.	Aotearoa	Robbie Shilliam, The Black Pacific: Anticolonial Struggles and Oceanic Connections (London: Bloomsbury, 2015)
Pasifika	Term used in Aotearoa for migrants from the Pacific regions, i.e. non-Māori Pacific peoples. Coined by government agencies.	Aotearoa	Robbie Shilliam, The Black Pacific: Anticolonial Struggles and Oceanic Connections (London: Bloomsbury, 2015)
[Paternalistic language]	Avoid phrasing like “the University of Sydney Library is preserving First Nations languages” as it dismisses the agency and effort of the First Nations people working hard to preserve their languages. If working on a project related to First Nations people and culture, when communicated, the emphasis should be placed on the collaboration between the Library and the relevant First Nations community if it complements the work that the community is already doing.	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
petrol sniffer	Derogatory term for Aboriginal people in Australia	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
religion	“Spirituality” or “spiritual beliefs” is preferred	Australia	Flinders University – Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples [22]
settlement/s encounter/s	Be cautious when using these terms as it can minimise the brutality of colonisation on First Nations peoples and lands and can ignore that Australia was not settled peacefully and there was continuous First Nations resistance. Preferred terms are “invasion”, “occupation”, or “colonisation”.	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
Torres Strait Islanders The Torres Strait Islanders	The preferred term is Torres Strait Islander Peoples. “The Torres Strait Islanders” is deemed less appropriate, as it implies they are all the same. About 80% of the Torres Strait Island population now resides outside the Torres Strait and as such, local terminology such as Murray Island Peoples and Mer Island Peoples is also used (see above). *Reminder: pluralise “Peoples” in this context*		Flinders University – Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples [23]
Traditional Owner/s Custodian	It is common to hear the term “Traditional Owner/s”  used to refer to a First Nations person or community that is directly descended from the original First Nations inhabitants of an area and is culturally connected to their Country. The term “Custodian” over “Owner” is preferred by some First Nations people as it is more reflective of their philosophy. Many First Nations people see their connection as working conjointly with the land rather than “owning” it in the Western sense, whereas some First Nations people prefer “Owners” to assert sovereignty and dispel terra nullius.	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
tribe/s clan/s band/s horde/s moiety	“Aboriginal peoples” or “Aboriginal nations” would be the preferred alternatives.
Uncle/s Auntie/s Aunty	The title Uncle or Aunty is often bestowed by a First Nations community on their Elders. Some Elders may choose to be known by this title publicly, while others might reserve it for use in personal settings. It is best practice to ask an Elder if they wish to be referred to as Uncle or Aunty before adopting these titles. When using these terms, always capitalise Uncle and Aunty and Aunty should always be spelt with a ‘y’ not an ‘ie’.	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
Uncle Tom/s House nigger/s	Terms borrowed from the USA to refer to Māori policemen, seen as traitors to the Māori and Pasifika Polynesian Panthers movement (which was inspired by Black Power).	Aotearoa, 20th century	Robbie Shilliam, The Black Pacific: Anticolonial Struggles and Oceanic Connections (London: Bloomsbury, 2015), 64.
urban / remote	There is a longstanding implication that “urban” Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture are “less Aboriginal” than “remote” people and culture. The false idea that “real” Aboriginal people live in Arnhem Land or the Central desert, and that only “remote” First Nations people and cultures are “really Aboriginal” is highly problematic and harmful. Because of this, you should only use terms such as “remote” to refer to geographical location and access to services.	Australia	University of Sydney Library – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
vegemite	A popular breakfast spread in Australia. Due to its dark colour, it has been used as a slur towards Aboriginal Australians. Since it is made of yeast extract, some Aboriginal Australians tried to use Vegemite to make alcohol after the government's ban on alcohol sales in Aboriginal settlements due to high alcohol abuse rates. The slur is, therefore, related to the “drunk native” stereotype, too.	Australia	Kadir O.
voyagers vs. islanders	The binary of “voyagers” (i.e. European explorers) and passive islanders erroneously suggest that Indigenous peoples were not conducting their own voyages prior to European contact.
White Australia Policy	This policy (effective between 1901-1950) prevented the migration of non-European peoples to Australia. The idea was that Australia was a 'white island' in the “sea of Asians”; therefore, if left unregulated, Australia would quickly turn into an Asian country.	Australia, 1901-1950.	Kadir O.
wog	Generally refers to people of Mediterranean descent (Italians, Greeks, Turks, Lebanese, etc.) who migrated to Australia. It is often used derogatorily, but some “wogs” started to take pride in the word in recent years. (One of Australia's most popular YouTube channels is “Superwogs”, for example, which is run by an Egyptian and a Greek Australian)	Australia, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Italy	Kadir O.
yellafella/s	Derogatory term for Aboriginal peoples	Australia	Flinders University – Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples [24]
yellow peril	The fear that Australia would become an “Asian country”. See “White Australia policy”