Glossary of terms
A | C | D | E | H | I | K | L | M | N | R | S | T
Pandanus basket. Acquired in 1935 from Murray River, South Australia.
The coiled technique was used to make this basket is particular to South Australian groups. The basket's shape has been distorted over time and was originally symmetrical.
Archaeology
The study of the material traces of the human past.
Assimilation
A 19th century idea that Indigenous people should be 'improved' by being 'civilised' and becoming Christians and learning how to work as Europeans did. From the 1930s assimilation became government policy.
Colonialism
The forcible takeover of the land of indigenous peoples and the exploitation of the land and the people, ignoring the rights of indigenous people.
Country
A term used by Aboriginal people to refer to the land to which they belong and their place of Dreaming. Aboriginal language usage of the word country is much broader than standard English.
Culture
The accepted and traditionally patterned ways of behaving and a set of common understandings shared by members of a group or community. Includes land, language, ways of living and working artistic expression, relationships and identity.
Dreaming
The Dreaming has different meanings for different Aboriginal groups. The Dreaming can be seen as an embodiment of Aboriginal creation which gives meaning to everything. It establishes the rules governing relationships between the people, the land and all things for Aboriginal people.
Elders
Key person and keepers of various knowledge within Aboriginal communities.
Heritage
That which comes or belongs to one by reason of birth.
Indigenous
Native to a place or area, originating in and characterising a particular region or country.
Indigenous People
The first peoples to a land.
Kinship
An importance part of Indigenous cultures and values. It includes all relationships and being related to and belonging to the land.
Law
Social control based on consensus and individual rights being subordinate to the welfare of the community.
Land Rights
The struggle by Aboriginal people to gain acknowledgment of prior ownership of this land both legally and morally and allowing all the accompanying rights and obligations which stem from this association.
Land use
The way land and water were used and maintained both physically and spiritually.
Lore
The learning and transmission of a cultural heritage.
Massacres
Indiscriminate killing of Aboriginal people by government forces, private killing parties and individuals.
Macassans
Fishermen from Sulawesi (now Indonesia) who came to coastal northern Australia to trade with Aboriginal people.
Missions
Areas originally set up and governed by different religious denomination for Aboriginal people to live. Today some people use the term to refer to Aboriginal housing developments. The terms "reserves" and "stations" are used as well.
Native title
Form of land title which recognises Aboriginal people as rightful owners of that land.
Racism
Set of beliefs, often negative, held by one group of people or individuals, about another group of people or individuals and based on the perceived racial characteristics of that group or individual. Racism in Australia takes on many forms - attitudinal, institutional and cultural.
Reconciliation
A Commonwealth initiative to promote reconciliation between Indigenous people and the wider community and to redress Indigenous disadvantage, with a target date of 2001.
Reserves
Areas of land reserved by the Crown for Aboriginal people in the 19th century. Much of this land was later taken form Aboriginal people again. Until the 1970s the remaining reserves were administered and controlled by government. See also missions and stations as these terms are also used.
Stations
Living areas established by governments for Aboriginal people on which managers and matrons controlled (and 'cared for') Indigenous people.
Social Justice
Being entitled to the same rights and services as all other citizens.
Terra nullius
A concept in international law meaning 'a territory belonging to no-one' or 'over which no-one claims ownership'. The concept is related to the legal acceptance of occupation as an original means of peacefully acquiring territory. However, a fundamental condition of a valid occupation is that the territory should belong to no-one. The concept has been used to justify the colonisation of Australia. The High Court decision of 1992 rejected terra nullius and recognises Indigenous native title.
