GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOLS

General guidelines and facts about Indigenous Australia for use in schools:
Nations
There are about 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations Australia–wide.
There are about 65,931 Aboriginal people in WA (16% of nation’s total Indigenous population 2001 census) and approximately 125 language groups/nations still identified in WA
The terms nations and language group are interchangeable and more preferable than ‘tribes’ which originate from Native American tribes
While many of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples live in major cities of Australia, a much greater proportion than in the general population live in remote and very remote parts of Australia.
Based on the ABS Remoteness Structure and according to 2001 Census figures, the geographic distribution of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is as follows:
• 30 per cent of the indigenous population live in major cities
• 20 per cent of the indigenous population live in inner regional areas
• 23 per cent of the indigenous population live in outer regional areas
• 9 per cent of the indigenous population live in remote areas
• the remainder, 18 per cent, reside in very remote areas.
The State of New South Wales has the highest population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but Indigenous Australians form the greatest percentage of the population in the Northern Territory. At the time of the 2001 Census, the population breakdown in individual states and territories was as follows
New South Wales 134 888
Queensland 125 910
Western Australia 65 931
Northern Territory 56 875
Victoria 27 846
South Australia 25 544
Tasmania 17 384
ACT 3 909
Other territories 233

Eurocentrism The language of primary and secondary sources can be a source for the racism of omission or incorrect language e.g.:
Lawrence Hargraves discovered gold in New South Wales.
Lawrence Hargraves was the first European to have his finding of gold, on Wiradjuri land, made public.
The facts that the 'discovery' was on Wiradjuri land and that Wiradjuri people knew of it long before are left out.

Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson were the first people to cross the Blue Mountains.
With assistance from Darug and Gundangarra peoples, Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson were the first Europeans to cross the Blue Mountains. The facts that the explorers needed Aboriginal assistance and that the Gundangarra people, whose land it is, knew the way across for thousands of years, are left out.
Aboriginal points of view
There are oral traditions amongst Aboriginal peoples about the impact of the changes brought about by Europeans. These changes range from loss of land, to murder, to marriage and to mutual benefit.
These can only be accessed through a positive and healthy relationship between the school and the local Aboriginal community.

Identity and Language
Use the person’s nation or language group e.g. Connie is a Cadigal woman rather than Connie is an Aboriginal woman
Do not use terms such as 'part–Aboriginal' or 'half–caste' or 'full–blooded'. Instead use ‘he/she has mixed heritage’
Use the terms nation(s) or language group(s) instead of tribes.
Use words like complex and diverse when referring to Aboriginal societies instead of primitive, native or prehistoric

Grammar

This website gives you local Indigenous names for places around NSW/Sydney
Pease use these where possible in your classrooms for the language revival of traditional languages as well as for an awakening of the Indigenous landscape in the minds of your non-Indigenous students
http://www.livingharbour.net/maps/aboriginal_place_txt.htm

Where possible refer to the local language in classroom for all
Place names
Uluru – instead of Ayers Rock
Derbal Yerrigan – Swan River



Indigenous people refer to themselves collectively in states as follows only when they are not aware of their language group names or whe referring to many Indigenous people collectively whiteness live in these cities
WA- southwest(noongars/nyungarnyoongahs)
SA-Nungas
QLD-Murris
VIC-Koories
NT-Yolngu
TAS-Palawa
NSW-Kooris

Aboriginal societies are alive and well, use the present tense for contemporary issues. Always use upper case for Aboriginal Dreaming/Dreaming story/ Creation Story (avoid using dreamtime, myths, legends)
Aboriginal people refer to their beliefs systems as spirituality or spiritual beliefs, not as a religion.