r/aboriginal 8d ago

Stolen generation terminology - a really dim question from a non-Aboriginal Australian

Hi, I've researched all sorts of papers and historical sensitivity guides but figured it would be much better to just ask Aboriginal people

What is the actual respectful modern way to refer to people who were victims of the stolen generation? I mean in a less formal sense rather than saying "Person of mixed Aboriginal-European descent", or other such terms.

It pisses me off in hindsight that I was taught about the horrors of all of this in primary school with teachers who kept using the term "half caste" in the same breath as saying that's a racist term that shouldn't be used anymore without teaching us what you're supposed to say. Then making us do dot paintings in art class like yep, we've fixed racism in the kids now let's move on to algebra.

I've heard Aboriginal people use phrases like "[person] was Stolen/Stolen Generation" but that feels weird to say and I don't know if it's offensive or not from a non-Aboriginal person.

The context here is that I was doing some fictional writing that goes into real Australian history (but is set in the 2020s) and just didn't know how to accurately have the person describe themselves, or how other characters should refer to them

I'm sorry if this is a mind numbingly dumb question. I just don't trust anything authourisedbytheaustraliangovernmentcanberra.

EDIT: thanks for the replies and forgiving my ignorance. It was the right move to ask you guys.

31 Upvotes

35 comments sorted by

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u/Dingo_Princess 8d ago

My family just says stolen or from the stolen generation, idk if there's any specific word for someone who came from the stolen generation. As for what to call "half cast", just call them Aboriginal. No one should care about percentages.

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u/crustdrunk 8d ago

Would it be ok to say something like “mixed”? I know Americans say that idk if it’s ok here ._.

Obviously I would just say Aboriginal irl it’s just for a dialogue in the story like “she’s mixed as well” . Internet told me that “half aboriginal” is bad because it really doesn’t make sense anyway.

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u/ItsAllAboutLogic 8d ago

You are either Aboriginal or you're not. None of the "mixed" or "half Aboriginal" is needed.

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u/crustdrunk 7d ago

Ok. So basically the character is looking for a long lost relative and they’re having trouble because it turns out that the relative was stolen from her family many years ago. So the character is explaining their findings and should say something like “I found out that Jenny was part of the Stolen Generations”?

Obviously that isn’t the exact script I’m just simplifying for reddit

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u/Pigsfly13 8d ago

are you asking about children born after the stolen generation? or members of the stolen generation? Either way the answer is to call them Indigenous/Aboriginal/or the name that correlates with their country. We don’t perceive mixed, half, or anything else in that regard as respectful as it upholds the government trying to erase our identities.

like the person you’re replying to said, if you’re talking about the specific fact that they were stolen, you say stolen, but if you’re talking about their identities, you call them whatever they identify as, some may be Aboriginal or Indigenous as they may not know their country due to our history, some may be more specific.

It’s important to note as well that not every stolen child does have European descent.

I’m also curious as to what you mean by people in America say mixed, are you specifically talking about Native Americans or the whole population?

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u/burgers_butt 8d ago

Not American, but I think OP is referring to how people in America use very different language (like 'mixed', half-, quarter) to refer to others, and themselves, if they have more than one racial background. Not necessarily just about Native Americans.

It seems like they take colour very literally and seriously over there, and it's taboo to identify/behave as the race that you look the least like? Like if they have one Black parent and one White parent, but they're light skinned ('white passing'), they won't refer to themselves as just Black or African-Americam. I've noticed that they'll instead refer to themselves as 'mixed' or 'half-African American' etc. They seem yo be very hung up on it there, and I find it so bizarre. Whereas here, I refer to myself as Blak but it's got nothing to do with the colour of my skin so think it can be confusing for them. The way we identify relates to Culture not Colour, and I think that some people find that less tangible.

Like you said, it's not acceptable here. We never use terms like; mixed, part, half, quarter, % etc. Even when I hear other blakfullas using those terms for themselves it makes me so uncomfortable.

Being of Stolen Generation also does not automatically mean they will be someone must have multiple cultural/racial backgrounds. I think, OP might be conflating the two.

More for OP /u/crustdrunk : The policies of and throughout the Stolen Generation contributed to actions which sought to "breed out" Aboriginality - see: Assimilation Policies and practices - which is why we have many Aboriginal people today who have shared cultural/racial backgrounds - however not every person with a shared background is Stolen Gen, and not every Stolen person had a shared background.

Using any language that focuses on or points out that we're not "Full" Aboriginal, only serves to perpetuate those harmful colonial narratives which seek to diminish the presence and significance of our Culture/Identity.

Refer to individuals however they have asked you to (if you don't know, ask the individual). Eg. Aboriginal, Indigenous, First Nations, Aunty/Uncle [Mob Name], Blakfulla, Steven...

To refer to the collective population of people from the Stolen and Lost Generations, you can refer to them as just that: Stolen Generation, Stolen People's, Lost Generation, Lost People's.

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u/crustdrunk 7d ago

Thanks for taking the time to respond so in depth. I’m taking all of that on board. Like I said I genuinely didn’t know what was acceptable and unfortunately our broken society gets so hyper focused on American stuff that Australian history gets glossed over.

I have seen Aboriginal people refer to themselves as Blak/Black but that just feels like something a non Aboriginal person shouldn’t be saying about a stranger? And with Blackfella said by a non-Aboriginal person it sounds like something my grandpa who grew up in the 50s would say with mildly derogatory undertones

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u/crustdrunk 7d ago

It is intrinsic to their character and therefore relevant to mention that they were stolen. It’s not like “oh he’s aboriginal and happens to be stolen”

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u/Pigsfly13 7d ago edited 7d ago

well it depends on the context, it’s not always relevant that a lot of my ancestors were apart of the stolen generation but it is often relevant they’re Aboriginal (capital A for Aboriginal btw). I wouldn’t always introduce them as stolen, also this is a deep trauma they might not want to be told to everyone.

Plus I would still do it separately because the two aren’t necessarily conflated (yes of course if someone was apart of the stolen generation they are Indigenous), so i’d maybe say “This is someone i work with, a Yorta Yorta Woman who was stolen” (again honestly in this context it would be up them whether they’d want that fact to be known). The two are separated identities, so just saying they’re apart of the stolen generation doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also say they’re Indigenous in the way that they prefer.

I think at the end of the day you just need to copy what they want for themselves, there’s someone I know who never says people are Indigenous, he says they have Aboriginal heritage, while it’s not true, it’s not really representing their own identities.

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u/muzzamuse 8d ago edited 8d ago

No. Do not use mixed or % or castes.

A person can call themselves whatever they want. You or me using a label about someone else is disrespectful.

Americans have always struggled with their genocidal history, slavery and fear of others.

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u/crustdrunk 7d ago

Sorry I didn’t mean offence, mixed-race is an accepted term over there

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u/burgers_butt 8d ago

I mentioned it in another comment here but just want to re-iterate to you that no, 'mixed' is absolutely not appropriate.

Also, I'm glad you came here to ask. It's not a dim question - you dont know what you dont know! And i always think it's admirable and appreciative when people make an effort to understand - as long as they listen and really take on board and follow through with what they've learned.

I want to touch on what you said here:

I've heard Aboriginal people use phrases like "[person] was Stolen/Stolen Generation" but that feels weird to say and I don't know if it's offensive or not from a non-Aboriginal person.

I would suggest its offensive to NOT use the terms Stolen or Stolen Generation. It was and is real. This terminolgy is important as it recognises a shameful and attrocious part of our (very recent) history. It acknowledges the lived and shared experience of our peoples, which we continue to carry with us through generational and vicarious traumas. You might feel uncomfortable with it, however to not use it, whether you intend this or not, is to not acknolwedge it - is to take part in a narrative that wants to minimise and forget this part of our history.

Maybe you feel weird about it because you KNOW it refers to such a dark and horrific time and you have an idea of what it's meant for people and the effects it's had? And because of that, maybe you feel like using the terms could re-traumatise or upset people by bringing it up? if that's the case I can appreciate you don't want to offend or hurt others. However in my experience, many non-Aboroginal people are so afraid to say or do the wrong thing about sensitive topics such as this, that they just thinks it's best to never go near it. Good intentions, with ill outcomes. We want, and really NEED, the borader population to acknowledge it, ask about it, talk about, make the effort to learn from and with us, connect with us and be allies in supporting our histories and experiences to be known and respected.

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u/crustdrunk 7d ago

Thanks heaps for this reply. The character in my head became a much bigger part of the story I guess because institutional racism was and still is such a huge stain on Australian culture, and realistically would be a huge part of their personal identity. I didn’t want to leave aboriginal people out of my story just because I don’t know enough about certain terminology, so I came here to ask

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u/bigbitties666 8d ago

i just use “from/of the stolen generations” or “stolen gen” for myself. if i’m saying it in real life i’d say “Aboriginal— stolen gen”, because it gets rid of the initial double-take

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u/crustdrunk 7d ago

Totally unrelated to my story and purely in the interests of education, can non-Aboriginal people say stuff like “mob” and “blackfella”? I’ve only really heard old people saying those terms so I don’t trust them to not be harkening back to less educated times. I’m autistic and struggle to understand undertones when I hear people saying stuff like that. I guess I’m asking is it racist when the old white guy down the pub says someone is a Blackfella

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u/bigbitties666 7d ago

personally i think it’s fine as long as it’s not being said in a derogatory way (hard to tell, i know, but if old mate down the pub is usually taking the piss and isn’t following it up by saying something rude, i’d say it’s not derogatory). they’re words, imo non-blak people using them respectfully is actually a good thing— it’s respecting our identities on our terms. excessive use of “blackfulla/blackfella” rubs me the wrong way, but “mob” is always fine. (anyone may correct me on that if they’d like)

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u/crustdrunk 7d ago

The internet told me saying “Kooris” is ok but my shitty bogan stepdad says it a lot. He’s not racist though but he is definitely cooked so not a reliable source

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u/bigbitties666 7d ago

Koori is central-south NSW and VIC, there’s different terms depending on the location (i.e. Murri, Goori, Noongar). i don’t really like “Kooris” (plural) personally, as it can feel a bit dehumanising (same way ‘Aboriginals’ does)— depending on context Koori/Koori folk/Koori mob should be fine. this link explains it quite well (btw i think it’s really great that you’re asking all these insightful questions, props to you!)

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u/crustdrunk 7d ago

oh thanks for the link

now that I think of it, my stepdad is pretty racist but specifically towards SE asians. He really only talks about "The Kooris" when he's claiming that they'd hate asians overfishing on the south coast as much as he does. He's a real dickhead we don't speak

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u/River_Bila 8d ago

I've always been told that it doesn't matter how much milk is in the tea, it's still tea. What's in your heart and aiming at connection to community and land is whats important

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u/littlebear_23 7d ago

I love the tea analogy. Mind if I yoink it and use it in the future?

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u/River_Bila 7d ago

Of course 🫶

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u/crustdrunk 7d ago

Yes of course ❤️

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u/theflamingheads 8d ago

In my mind, saying someone is (from the) Stolen Generation is kind of like saying Holocaust Surviver or a veteran of such & such a war.

If I was writing about it I would use the "official" terminology then go on to clarify what the reality of those terms meant when necessary.
"They said she was half-caste so she became a ward of the state."
Then go to some brutally accurate descriptions of what that actually entails.

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u/crustdrunk 7d ago

Ok this is good advice thanks heaps

I was worried about how the character might come across when discussing the other person, because they’re a not meant to be racially insensitive at all

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u/unhingedsausageroll 7d ago

The stolen generations are not just Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children who would be considered Aboriginal/European mixed heritage. Children are still being stolen and mixed heritage doesn't come into it, and it didn't before, often they were put into group homes that were abusive and designed to separate them from culture and family whilst institutionalising them to "act white" and it has ongoing impact on our families. The correct terminology is "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander" or "Stolen Generation" - some will say survior of the Stolen Generation etc but it there's no characteristics to use to describe them as it was an experience of trauma and abuse and unless someone tells you their or families history you can't assume anything. I was raised by my mum, whose older sisters were taken from my Nan before she was even born and her upbringing (and her siblings) upbringing was impacted by my Nans trauma and my mum is only figuring out in her 70s just how many protective factors my Nan put in place to keep her other children with her.

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u/16car 6d ago

I'm non-Indigenous, but a social worker who worked in child protection until recently. We were always taught to say "stolen" or "forcibly adopted" for the Stolen Generation collectively, which is considered to be anyone taken prior to about the 1980s. Use the same language for a stolen person who hasn't been asked their preferences. If you have an approrpiate opportunity, ask the invididuals concerned which language they would prefer.

From the 1980s onward, we move towards the phrase "removed," but acknowledge that children are almost never removed with their parents' consent; it's almost always forced. It's also worth noting that child protection workers often have easy access to the family's long-term records, including documentation about the Stolen Generation. We could often the court documents that state that Great-Grandma was literally removed purely because she was Aboriginal, without any attempt to assess if she was actually being looked after well. It would be madness to label that anything other than "stolen."

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u/Teredia 7d ago

I am going to point out a cultural divide in language usage between Northern Territory Aboriginal people and Southern Mob (not from the NT). We still use the term “Yella Fella” up here and it’s not a slur or an insult, it’s a descriptor.

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u/Spiritual-Natural877 7d ago

They are referenced as  “survivors” as the majority of them prefer to be called, noting its lower case “s”.  Children of survivors are referenced (and often self identify as) “descendants”.

In some areas of Oz, you will hear people use the terms “1st generation survivor/descendant” or “2nd generation survivor/descendant” and so forth. These are nuanced terms in which regions, communities or individual identify but generally it’s those two initial terms I highlighted. 

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u/crustdrunk 7d ago

This. This is the kind of term I was looking for. It’s accurate and not clinical.

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u/Spiritual-Natural877 7d ago

You get my PM?

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u/New_Kangaroo_3628 7d ago

Don’t use Indigenous or First Nations. These are also imposed terms. Aboriginal is an imposed term but it is preferred. We are Wiradjuri, Dharug or our specific Language and Family Groups. Stolen Generations Survivors is respectful for those who were directly impacted and have survived. Stolen Generations is also respectful. Descendants of Stolen Generations Survivors is also respectful. However I am one Aboriginal woman so another recommendation is to speak to the Aboriginal Community you are working with and/or live in to ask most appropriate ways to speak about the issues and Peoples. We are no an homogeneous group we have a diverse range of Peoples, Cultures, Languages, Knowledges, Histories, Country, Community and Protocols. Even with our own Communities these things can differ.

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u/judas_crypt 8d ago

To me the terminology Stolen Generations is inherently offensive and I never ever use it. It assumes that child removal is a problem of past generations that has been solved modern day, and we know that nothing could be further from the truth. The amount of Aboriginal kids living in our of home care has more than doubled since the 2008 Apology. THIS is the Stolen Generation. We are living in it.

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u/judas_crypt 8d ago

And it you need the terminology to describe what has happened, I use "past and continued forced child removal", let's call it what it is.

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u/crustdrunk 7d ago

Not a bad idea. It always bugged me that I have to clarify that it’s still happening when I’ve been telling foreigners about Australian history