Glossary: Know Your First Nations Terminology

People of Aboriginal descent (or who identify as Aboriginal) from mainland Australia and its off-shore islands; and people from the Torres Strait Islands between the tip of Cape York in Queensland and Papua New Guinea. You'll often see them referred to as 'First Australians' or 'Traditional Custodians of the land'.

Need help with respectful referencing? See the RAP Good Practice Guide by Reconciliation Australia.

An Indigenous person who has gained recognition as a custodian of knowledge and lore, and has permission to disclose knowledge and beliefs. Elders often play main support and counselling roles for community. You might see them referred to as 'Aunty' or 'Uncle' as a sign of respect.

A term given to the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples, recognising their ongoing traditional and cultural connections to Country - the original owners of the land we now know as Australia.

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander persons are 'custodians', responsible for maintaining the land and sharing its cultural knowledge, rituals, language, stories, songs, dances, etc. that are connected to their Country. 

"We don't own the land, the land owns us."

A reference to a group of First Nations people associated with a particular place or Country. More generally, 'mob' identifies who you are and where you're from.

Want to find out more?: Visit Deadly Stories

The interdependent relationship between the ancestral lands, skies, and seas to which an Aboriginal person is connected - and more than you can see or touch! Country is all encompassing of place, culture, language, identity, family, law and spirituality.

Still a bit unclear?: Read more in What is Country?.

A formal ceremony which can include song, dance, smoking ceremony or speech in language and/or English delivered by an Elder, Traditional Owner or other Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person (permitted by Traditional Owners) to welcome visitors onto Country.

Watch a Smoking Ceremony in this story.

A formal acknowledgement of the land's Traditional Owners, given by a First Nations or non-Indigenous person at the start of any gathering or event. This practice shows cultural respect for the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to Country.

Learn how to give one in this story.

Songlines are a fundamental aspect of First Nations cultures. They have been passed down through thousands of generations, creating a tapestry of stories and laws that map Country and Culture. Recorded in song, dance, art or story, Songlines tell the origins of the land and the laws people have to live by.

Learn more in this article by Common Ground.

The Dreaming is more than a single concept. It is used to describe the all-encompassing ideas of Creation, law, language and lore, as well as the enduring continuance of First Nations cultures. The Dreaming exists in the past, present and future, and acts as a set of cultural ideas, stories and knowledge that connect and inform all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life.