Aboriginal

Aboriginal is an adjective and sometimes a noun describing the original inhabitants of a region and their descendants. In Australia it is commonly applied to Indigenous Australians and is often paired with Torres Strait Islander in the official term Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In other countries, Aboriginal can denote indigenous populations, but usage varies and Indigenous or First Nations terms are often preferred.

The word derives from Latin ab origine, meaning “from the origin,” via French and English usage.

Australia’s Aboriginal peoples represent diverse cultural and linguistic groups. Before European colonization, there were hundreds of distinct languages and traditions. Colonization brought disease, displacement, violence, and assimilation policies, including the removal of children known as the Stolen Generations, profoundly affecting communities.

Legal developments include the 1992 Mabo decision recognizing native title and the 1993 Native Title Act; the 1967 referendum expanded federal recognition of Indigenous Australians. Contemporary discussions focus on constitutional recognition and a voice to Parliament, as urged by the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Cultural life centers on connection to land and water, with traditions in art, music, storytelling, and ceremony. Today Aboriginal communities exist in urban and remote settings and continue to sustain languages, laws, and knowledge across generations.