Culture is certainly a very complex issue, if not handling properly it could lead to misconceptions, myths, and stereotypes which sadly still happened to Australian Aboriginal culture and its people nowadays in Australia.
Danny Teece-Johnson, a proud Geomeri nation, and an SBS NITV staff share his first-hand experience to Australian people how to deal with this matter in five points when having a conversation with Aboriginal friends to avoid offensive and show respect.
1. Offensive names
Do not use the abbreviation of Aboriginal as 'Abo' or the term 'Koon' or 'Boong' but stick to the general term as Aboriginal or Indigenous people of Australia to avoid such derogatory terms or better still ask and call Australian natives accordingly to their nations.
2. 'What percentage Aboriginal are you?'
Is one of the most offensive questions to ask an Australian Indigenous person. So it is not recommended out of respect.
Danny says that 'it doesn't matter how many percentages is an Aboriginal person is, rather focus on their connection to the land (Australia) and their communities as their identity, that is what matters'.
Gubbi Gubbi Traditional Owners. Source: Katie Bennett - Embellysh Photography
3. 'Aboriginals get free houses'
Though some of the Australian Indigenous communities might have access to Australian government free housing programs, not every Aboriginal person get these services.
To say that every Aboriginal receive a free pass no matter where they live is very disrespectful, it is an additional insulting to their already struggle and their past traumatization from colonization.
Danny Teece-Johnson, NITV journalist from the Gomeroi nation. Source: SBS
4. Lack of acknowledgment
'Acknowledging Australian native people at any event is showing respect and recognition that they are the custodian of this land for thousands of years, without it, it's just a pretending that Aboriginal people don’t exist,” says Danny.
Members of the Gumatj caln perform bunggul (ceremonial dancing) at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land. Source: Yothu Yindi Foundation / Melanie Faith Dove
5. People speaking on behalf of Aboriginal people
Danny says that "mainstream media of non-Indigenous people tend to discuss a lot of Aboriginal issues without Aboriginal expert(s) participation and this could lead to racism, stereotyping and paint a very untrue picture of who we are as a people and culture.”
Celeste Liddle addressing the massive crowd at the Melbourne march. Source: NITV News – Kris Flanders
