Under Australia's federal system the High Court of Australia is required to interpret the Constitution; elected representatives do not interpret it. Justice will ultimately prevail. In the meantime, unless there are negotiations now on the basis of the law laid down by the High Court, we shall have submitted ourselves to endless litigation before our courts and shame before the world.
Dragging the chain 1897-1997
The Rt. Hon. Gough Whitlam
Lingiari Lecture no. 2

A Shared History

Protocols and guidelines

Protocols:

Study of Aboriginal Australia in New South Wales Department of Education and Training's schools should always be conducted:

within the framework of the Department's Aboriginal Education Policy (1996)
in consultation with the local community or AECG representatives
using protocols that recognise cultural and intellectual property.

Terminology

Aboriginal peoples is used throughout the site, it indicates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Aboriginal languages

The teaching of Aboriginal languages in the NSW Department of Training and Education schools is guided by language protocols. These protocols can be found in the Aboriginal studies section of the NSW Board of Studies.

Aboriginal communities

The teaching of Aboriginal Australia in the NSW Department of Training and Education schools is guided by community protocols. These protocols can be found in the Aboriginal studies section of the NSW Board of Studies.

Sacred sites

A set of guidelines for sacred sites is set out on Indigenous Australia.

General guidelines and facts:

Nations

There are about 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations Australia–wide.
There are about 70 Aboriginal nations in modern NSW.
The terms nations and language group are interchangeable.

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

Use the person’s nation or language group e.g. Connie is a Bidwell person, rather than Connie is Aboriginal.

Do not use terms such as 'part–Aboriginal' or 'half–caste' or 'full–blooded'.

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

Aboriginal societies are alive and well, use the present tense for contemporary issues.

Always use upper case for

Aboriginal
Dreaming/Dreaming story

In context

Land
Elder