Within some Aboriginal groups, there is a strong tradition of not speaking the name of a dead person. It is believed that doing so will disturb their spirit. They may use a substitute name, such as 'Kumanjayi', 'Kwementyaye' or 'Kunmanara', in order to refer to the person who has died without using their name.
Another interesting part of their mortuary rituals is that Aboriginal people in Australian avoid saying the name of the dead or depicting them in photos or films. According to ancient law, saying or depicting a dead person's name would disturb their spirit.
They encountered a belief in the existence of spirits within each person: when aboriginal people die, they should be buried with a complete body and soul so that they are prepared for their next life.
Assimilationist terms such as 'full-blood,' 'half-caste' and 'quarter-caste' are extremely offensive and should never be used when referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In Aboriginal culture it is taboo to mention (or in some cases write) the name of a deceased person. Aboriginal people believe that if the deceased person's name is mentioned, the spirit is called back to this world.
Indigenous communities have always had specific ways to grieve deaths in their community. For some, it's lighting a fire in honour of that person. For others, it's using specific medicines that help ease the transition between death and the spirit world.
To make direct eye contact can be viewed as being rude, disrespectful or even aggressive.To convey polite respect, the appropriate approach would be to avert or lower your eyes in conversation. Observe the other person's body language.
'Aborigine' is generally perceived as insensitive, because it has racist connotations from Australia's colonial past, and lumps people with diverse backgrounds into a single group. You're more likely to make friends by saying 'Aboriginal person', 'Aboriginal' or 'Torres Strait Islander'.
The aboriginal people have their own beliefs about death and consider this experience to be merely a transition into another life and the afterlife is very similar to their lives before death. Those who are believed to posses more than one spirit or soul will enjoy the same afterlife than normal people.
A.C. Macdonald advises that any of the following aboriginal names would be suitable for a bungalow at the seaside:—”Loma Larnee,” signifying “Heaven, or the home of love;” “Carinyah,” “a happy, peaceful home, where no quarrels are allowed to come; “Mie Gunyah,” “my home;” “Kooyong,” a beautiful locality;” “Wahroonga,” ...
History. National Sorry Day is an annual event in Australia on 26 May. It commemorates the "Stolen Generations" — the Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly separated from their families in an attempt to assimilate them into white Australian culture during the 20th century.
The NSW Aboriginal Land Council Funeral benefit scheme provides financial assistance in the form of a limited grant for funerals of Aboriginal people.
It's basic courtesy to always ask before filming or taking photos of a person, a group of people or cultural ceremonies. When it comes to caves and rock art sites, don't rush ahead and clamber over the rocks for a photo opportunity. Reproductions and photographs of deceased Indigenous people are absolutely prohibited.
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage is voluntary and very personal. You don't need paperwork to identify as an Aboriginal person. However, you may be asked to provide confirmation when applying for Aboriginal-specific jobs, services or programs (for example grants).
There is no one Aboriginal word that all Aborigines use for Australia; however, today they call Australia, ""Australia"" because that is what it is called today. There are more than 250 aboriginal tribes in Australia. Most of them didn't have a word for ""Australia""; they just named places around them.
Most television stations use a disclaimer warning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers that the program may contain images and voices of dead Indigenous people (as recommended by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation). The avoidance period may last one or more years.
Be consistent. The preference is to use 'First Nations people', 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people(s)', or 'Indigenous Australians'.
'What percentage Aboriginal are you?'
"Your connection to the land and your community is part of your identity no matter what.” So if you wish to be more respectful and understanding of Aboriginal culture, don't bother asking that question. It simply doesn't matter.
If you're still unsure if it's appropriate for you, then you should ask before you buy it. People wearing products with Indigenous designs should feel comfortable and proud wearing it. You may encounter some awkward and unexpected questions or comments, so the person wearing it needs to be prepared.
Aboriginal people refer to an Elder as 'Aunty' or 'Uncle'. However, it is recommended that non-Aboriginal people check the appropriateness of their use of these terms as referring to an Elder or leader as Aunty or Uncle may not be appropriate for an outsider unless a strong relationship has been established.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
For Indigenous Peoples, “repeated exposure to trauma, family instability, and childhood adversities such as separation from parents, poverty and family dysfunction” presents an increased risk of developing PTSD.
Many people in Aboriginal communities have to deal with strong factors that can lead to depression, including: the long-term effects of residential school experiences on family members. sadness from losing one's culture and heritage.
Lifelong and generational adverse life experiences can increase your chances of developing depression and other symptoms of emotional distress. This is the case for millions of Indigenous people in the United States, who face a high lifetime probability of experiencing mental health symptoms.