Indigenous
Australians are the first inhabitants
of the Australian continent and its
nearby islands, continuing their presence
during European settlement. The term
includes the various indigenous peoples
commonly known as Aborigines, whose
traditional lands extend throughout
mainland Australia, Tasmania and numerous
offshore islands, and also the Torres
Strait Islanders whose lands are centred
on the Torres Strait Islands which
run between northernmost Australia
and the island of New Guinea. The
term "Indigenous Australians"
encompasses a large number of diverse
communities and societies, with notably
different modes of subsistence, cultural
practices, languages, technologies
and inhabited environments. However,
these peoples also share a larger
set of traits, and are otherwise seen
as being broadly related. A collective
identity as Indigenous Australians
is recognised and exists alongside
the identity and membership of many
local community and traditional groups.
There
are also various names from the indigenous
languages which are commonly used
to identify groups based on regional
geography and other affiliations.
These include: Koori (or Koorie) in
New South Wales and Victoria; Murri
in Queensland; Noongar in southern
Western Australia; Yamatji in Central
Western Australia; Wangkai in the
Western Australian Goldfields; Nunga
in southern South Australia; Anangu
in northern South Australia, and neighbouring
parts of Western Australia and Northern
Territory; Yapa in western central
Northern Territory; Yolngu in eastern
Arnhem Land (NT) and Palawah (or Pallawah)
in Tasmania. These larger groups may
be further subdivided; for example,
Anangu (meaning a person from Australia's
central desert region) recognises
localised subdivisions such as Yankunytjatjara,
Pitjantjatjara, Ngaanyatjara, Luritja
and Antikirinya. The word aboriginal,
appearing in English since at least
the 17th century and meaning "first
or earliest known, indigenous,"
has been used in Australia to describe
its indigenous peoples as early as
1789. It soon became capitalised and
employed as the common name to refer
to all Indigenous Australians. Strictly
speaking, "Aborigine" is
the noun and "Aboriginal"
the adjectival form; however this
latter is often also employed to stand
as a noun. Note that the use of "Aboriginal(s)"
in this sense, i.e. as a noun, has
acquired negative, even derogatory
connotations among some sectors of
the community, who regard it as insensitive,
and even offensive. The more acceptable
and correct expression is "Australian
Aborigines," though even this
is sometimes regarded as an expression
to be avoided because of its historical
associations with colonialism. "Indigenous
Australians" has found increasing
acceptance, particularly since the
1980s.
|
|
