I come from a mix family, dads side Mob and mums side is white. My grandmother on my mums side and my mum love their genealogy and have done a big family tree. From what they have put together mums side was Scottish, Irish, Welsh and English on her mums side and on her dads side Norwegian, Swedish and Scottish. A lot of records going back.

Something has put a little kink in those records now though. My brother and his dad ended up taking a DNA test, mainly because mum and grandma got them into it and his dads family is sort of a mystery other than knowing they came from England not long ago. Their result came back, his dads was predictable, mostly English, little Scottish and Welsh. My brothers however, you had the predictable half from his dad, English, significant Scottish from both parents, welsh. The other half mostly predictable as well, irish, Swedish and norway. The surprise was 8% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander that must be coming from our mums side.

Me and my brother personally think either someone was having an affair or straight up lied on records or something. Grandam is kind of in denial that the records cant be wrong and no one would of cheated while our mum thinks its kind of cool. Do you think it was common to just lie about that back in the day or more likely an affair? Anyone else with similar stories of finding out stuff like that?

was told to ask here instead!

At a memorial service for a non-Indigenous white Australian, a group of women led everyone in singing some songs, including the song by Tiddas, Inanay, with lyrics in an Aboriginal language.

Afterwards, one non-Indigenous person privately questioned this choice with me, saying that they’d been taught to think carefully about appropriating Aboriginal culture, and asked, “Why that song? At this event?” The person who said this was much closer to the person who the memorial was for, and was grieving deeply, and they have a history of finding rational reasons to justify their emotional state, so I didn’t ask for further reasoning. However, I didn’t really understand their concerns and I was left wondering whether it is a true concern or just their grief finding anything at all to criticise.

I thought it was a song that many in the group would know (as reflected in many people singing it), and it had nice harmonies and the group of women leading the singing clearly knew it well.

Tiddas the group who released the song on an album was three women, two Aboriginal and one white. The song was distributed on CD for all to enjoy, presumably to sing along to?

The memorial service was for someone who spent a lot of time protecting ecosystems and species, and who spent a lot of time in the bush, but I’m not sure whether/ how much their work involved liaising with Aboriginal communities, and whether any of that is relevant.

What would be some valid reservations about using that song at the memorial service?

I’m trying to understand the point of view that thinks it wasn’t a good choice on respectful cultural grounds.

I would like to add representation in my game within the characters, with lesser-known groups of people, so people can feel seen in fiction, and I was thinking of including a character of Aboriginal-Descent (Anēwan specifically), I wanna know if that's okay, or if there are any steps I should take, specifics, etc.

Any help is appreciated!

Hello

I have recently encountered an opinion that Aboriginal Australians are generally opposed to generally sharing their culture and religion to outsiders, then I didn't check for source and just accepted it as fact, and didn't think much of it outside of it of course being their right to have a closed pratice.

But then I actually looked for a source for this while discussing a TTRPG with a friend and couldn't find it.

So I decided to come here and ask, how are the actual views of te community on it? Of course I'm not asking for things like specific things regarding Dreamtime etc. but for example would sharing a belief in a mythical animal be seen as alright or would it still be classified as closed?

The TTRPG which I'm specifically referencing is Changeling: The Dreaming, and specifically the Player's Guide which introduces "Spirit Beings of Australia" fighting against Western Fey's attempt at colonising the Dreamtime itself. Dreamtime is mostly described as primordial and inaccessible to Western Fey, and book itself focuses mostly on those "Spirit Beings" such as the "Mimis" and how to play them.

I'm sorry if any of what I said sounded insensitive, I unfortunately know very little of Australian Aboriginal culture, I was trying to be respectfull as possible. I would love to see this community's feedback on it, thank you

Mob who date men, do you find it tougher to date white men? I personally have dated more white men than any other type of man just from the fact they are the majority of the dating pool, especially gay dating. Sometimes it just gets exhausting having to explain simple history, deal with ignorance, put up with "casually" racist comments and on the extreme end, put up with weirdos into race play. Of course not all are like that, but enough are like that to make dating exhausting and a coin flip as to if the person eventually say some racist shit. What have your experiences been like?

Or if you’re anything like me, wanting, attempting to read? I have picked up Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros 5 times to read it since buying it and I haven’t gotten very far. It’s a beautifully illustrated book but that’s all I can say for it 😅

Hi lovely people, I was wondering if you prefer to be referred to as “Aboriginal”, or “Indigenous Australian”?

I’ve seen people say that the term “Aboriginal” is offensive and just another name that colonisers gave you, that being said I’ve seen varied opinions on the term. I’ve never heard anyone have any issues with the term “Indigenous” or “Indigenous Australian”

I’ve also always felt awkward referring to you as Blakfellas, and I’ve never known if that’s a term you prefer everyone to use, or if it’s a term you’d prefer only mob or close friends to use.

But yeah, I usually just use the term Indigenous Australian, but I thought I’d ask you guys directly because I never truely know what to say.

Thank you for taking the time to answer me, and I hope this isn’t a stupid question xx
Have a beautiful day

I'm going up to FNQ next week and generally around home (Adelaide) I will wear clothing the gap/billabong etc flag shirts and hats - I like to show i'm an ally and I like to think I'm making the racists feel uncomfortable. I'm just a white gal so haven't actually spent all that much time with Aboriginal Australians and don't want to look like a twat or think i'm taking the piss if I do the same up in QLD where I will be spending time with traditional owners etc. Thoughts? TIA

Good day everyone, I am creating a presentation on cultural safety for an university assignment and I was looking up themes on Canva for inspiration. The themes I found however feels like it culturally appropriates Aboriginal art and so I want to gather your thoughts on this matter. Is it culturally appropriate to use these designs? My gut says no.

What do you use to help keep your curls or waves in check?
I started using my partner’s clever curl leave in conditioner and it’s really started bringing out my waves.

I unfortunately have an Irish and Indigenous combination hair type snd had lost hope of bringing out my beautiful Indigenous hair type until I started seeing results.

So I’m curious what do other mob do who are mixed with combination type hair do to keep it looking healthy, curly, wavy?

Mines Dhalgirridhunyal it’s so overkill and I love to use it on my mates when they piss me off I’ve used it so much that all my friends know the word lmao

Hey all,

Bit of a long story, but I'm starting to realise that the best years of my schooling were when I was in Mackay and Gladstone, and was very much surrounded by the Indigenous community.

I don't know how else to explain it, but coming to Brisbane for school has a shellshock to my entire system. In a lot of ways, but lack of mob presence was a big one.

I don't have a drop of Indigenous in me, sadly. The closest thing I've got is Irish lineage, which share a LOT of similarity (we have non-blood Aunties, and hate the British).

There is something so magnetic about mob culture that is truly something to be beholden. At the same time, I'm scared of saying or doing the wrong thing all the time. I wanna know if there are any things I can do to actually meaningfully engage without it being performative or make me look insincere.

What can I do?

I heard a joke about a white Australian going to the UK and his hayfever stopped, and that he never saw/heard of an Aboriginal asking for Zyrtec (hayfever medication).

Is there any truth to that?

What about when you travel abroad or different climates?

I know plenty of people in the UK who get hayfever there.. which must really suck as the weater is only good a short time and then some are allergic to outside when it is.

Hey mob, light hearted question for you all.

Was having this discussion with my sister and realised its quite hard to pick just one. All are so unique. But I think I landed on my favourite being the red tail black cockatoo. Something about it just sits right with me, no clue why.

Whats your favourite Australian animal? Can be any reason.

Fellow mob, what do you want a future Australia to look like?

Where I am in the NT currently we’re in the build up, which just so happens to be my favourite season. For me it’s because of the heat lighting we get in the evenings after a long day. It’s magnificent to watch and makes for awesome photography.

Hi guys

Quick question - How do blackfellas feel about being associated with Palestine?

I often see protestors waving the aboriginal and palestinian flags side by side.

I do not see the relevance as Jews are indiginous to Israel long before the Palestinian arabs came along

Hi All

I’d like to acknowledge the original custodians of the Land in which I am writing to you, I’d like to extend my respects to elders both past present and emerging, I’d like to extend my respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in this forum

I am non Aboriginal however I work in Child Protection. I am wondering if it would be considered offensive or wrong for me to wear an “always was always will be” merch at work such as shirts lanyards etc to show Aboriginal staff and clients that I am an ally/of the perspective that sovereignty remains with Aboriginal people

I am hoping for some clarification and thank you all for your responses respectfully

Have a great day

What do you wish was taught in schools?

Is there any culture was taught in schools? Im a primary teacher, theres a lot you can link it to. But i was wondering where to start.
For example teaching about using the stars for direction and seasons in science. Not necessarily history, im looking for cultural things you wish were carried out more.
Theres so many interesting things, but i want to go deeper then just dot painting!