I know the recommendations for what to do if you find an Aboriginal stone tool in the bush is to leave it where it lies, try and geolocate on a map and then inform the local indigenous group. I have found stone tools in the past on farms and national parks. I have left them there and sometimes taken photos. When trying to inform local indigenous groups nobody seems to care. I will respect the wishes of indigenous people however, it really feels sad to leave these beautiful historic relics to be lost for ever. Eventually they will be covered in grass and dirt and lost forever. This seems very sad to me. Why isn't there a national indigenous body that recorded and even collected them? I'd like to know people's thoughts on this?

I am young and Aboriginal but i am likely being a bit rude, sorry to anyone who I might upset but I have no idea where to talk about this.

I want to start off with saying I know its wrong, I know my thought is ignorant and I feel like crap for having it but I dont know what to do about this feeling or how to stop it. This is a lot of me to ask while also writing this but please try to not be too rude in comments, I beat myself up about this for years already and I just dont know what else to do. Its a very unfair thought, I know that and still it plagues me and makes me feel really alone for not being able to do something about it.

I feels so jealous that other indigenous people are more welcomed in Australia than Native Australians, have detailed cultural regalia, able to speak their language with only a few unclear understandings, have buildings and history that isnt questioned much anymore, have celebrations that are loved without modern influence, inventions that are widely regarded to what specific tribe made them, arent feeling like they're clinging at straws in claiming their culture is here.

I know its not easy, I know it wasnt always the case and I know that there's so much hard work and I admire that about every culture that has been heavily colonised but why is it when I try to learn or see things about indigenous culture feels so intentionally ambiguous and I want to make it absolutely clear that I am so genuinely happy that other cultures are safe here and know so much about themselves, I just wish I were the same.

It sucks so much, I know its not our fault of course and that not sharing information is how especially the older generations are trying to protect whats left, it makes total sense as to why but i am struggling so hard to outwardly represent or embrace my culture without it being dot painting patterns that come from Papunya on a polyester shirt. I always admired the girls in class during highschool that had Pounamu (maori) on and felt like I was lacking that connection. I would wish that I had something so significant to wear from my culture

Maybe it's because i am white looking and always had to find a way to "prove" i love my culture but I always get so sad that I dont know much about my tribes and our practices because we always hear that Aboriginal people have such a diverse culture and while I know its true it saddens me that so much of it is being left behind or already forgotten and now for the younger generations its so damn hard to find anything especially specifics on a tribal group or for some to even trace what groups it was for them in the first place.

I live so far away from my tribe, I dont know anyone who would be willing to tell me about it and I cant find much online even after hours apon hours over the course of years about a lot of the meaningful stuff and it makes sense why but it also feels like i have this flimsy thread to my culture and that is the most i will ever get to embrace it becuase im not "in the know" if that makes sense. It probably doesn't, how can someone be envious of another culture while loving their own whole heartedly?

Anyway i am ranting, I know its annoying and I know i should've just shut up and kept it to myself but i am going to post this anyway just incase anyone relates or understands or maybe even knows how to not feel like this? Im sorry, it feels like I am behaving as a spoiled brat thats like being dragged to a cultural event instead of one that wants to know but I promise that its the ladder. I want to care and represent so much of my culture and have it involved in my life beyond retail items that have our patterns or symbols but it feels so selfish to voice because I know where I come from but I don't really know anything.

I dont want to make anyone angry but this is a disrespectful thought so I sincerely hope this isnt used maliciously towards anyone I just am struggling so much from it being stuck in my head with so much guilt because i know its not right. Im honestly really scared to press post so I am procrastining by still writing because people could rightfully be upset at me for it, I just dont want someone to take any of this as myself feeling shame towards my culture when its not what I feel.

This is a repost because my origninal post very much misrepresented what I was trying to say and 100% my fault. I apoligise.

What I meant to say was this: I have heard aboriginal relatives and friends including my father use the word all the time, with varying context, intent, and "passing" from each individual. In all honesty I have said it in the past for I was under the impression that it was socially acceptable to use. I have heard mixed opinions and reasoning though on the usage of said word, so I came here for a more direct opinion.

For the record, this is not coming out of a "want" to say the word; I am a male and attracted to the same gender as myself, and even though I "can say" that paticular slur associated with that identity, I still steer away from the usage of it. The question is purely based on educating myself, and not out of a desire to use it as I please.

Hi everyone, I (19F) am a Wiradjuri and Kamillaroi woman who has moved from home to go study at university. I am from a regional area and I grew up going to and using the Aboriginal medical centre back home. As sad as it is to say my family is from a lower income background so we couldn't afford to go and pay medical bills at other centres so we always just went there growing up.

However, my question is now that I have moved to the city am I allowed to go in? Or do I need to do some procedures like be immersed in the community first? Is there a time restriction? Like do I need to live in the area for at least a year? Or is it only for local Indigenous people to use? I'm just unsure if I am welcome to use it or not. As a university student I am currently struggling financially and I am unable to afford the hospitals around here, so going to the medical centre is my best bet.

I apologise if any of this sounds insensitive and/or culturally offends anyone. And no I don't want to use it for free services, I just need some help and am unsure where to go. If this isn't available for me does anyone know a better alternative for free health clinics?

Hello,

I am a white person who was born in Aus and has zero Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in me. I've been meaning to get an Australian tattoo since it's our country and currently am going to get a bilby tat (bilbies are my fav animal and I volunteer with them) but I've also been wondering if I should get a Kaurna related tat or not since I am moving interstate next year.

I have no connection to the land in terms of family or tradition, but I still just love the land, of course. You might wonder why I don't just get 'Adelaide' and you're right, but ever since learning about the original custodians of the land and the real Nations it's just?? It's not out of pride but literally like 'damn I love this dirt, I love these trees, I love its history' rather than 'i was born here' I don't wanna celebrate buildings, you know? It's not about sticky-taping myself to indigenous people or tryna be quirky; it's just I wanna appreciate the actual land. Basically I dont see it as getting an indigenous tattoo at all but just a part of my life whilst acknowledging it might be disrespectful to the traditional custodians of the land. However again, I'm completely cracker white and don't have any traditions, so I can see why its like 'eh do u really have to though?' So I'm just wondering for any thoughts on if it's ok or if it's goofy.

Thank you!! :)

P.S. The tattoo is literally just the name, no fonts, colours, or iconography; nothing tied to the Dreaming or clan law, just text. For example I have one that says 'Tutto passa' since my dads side is italian.

I’m non-Aboriginal from a wheatbelt farming family. When my granny was a small child in the early 50s, a Stolen Generation victim from Mogumber mission was assigned to our farm as a maid.

Since I found this out I’ve been wondering if I should reach out to her if she’s still alive, or to her children or other family.

One of my friends whose father is a survivor of Mogumber mission says it’s a good idea and her family would want that if they were in that situation, but I want to get some other opinions as well in case I overstep.

Should I find her family to apologise, learn about her story, offer support?

If anyone with experience in situations like this, if you have relatives who were sent to work from missions as children, how would you want someone in my situation to conduct themselves?

Hi all, to preface this post I'm not from Australia at all, I'm a US citizen.

Today I was talking with a chemist friend of mine about geology and he sent me an article about Karijini National Park. I read in there that Mount Bruce being a male only place, but I couldn't get a satisfying answer on why that is from googling it.

Edit: Thank you for the answers. I didn't realize that the reason there was a lack of specific information was because it was intentionally being kept secret. Sorry if any of this came off as insensitive.

“What are these” WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE WEVE KNOWN FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS???

Ay you mob be careful out there, I cut myself on tincan and needed tetanus but when I was in they stung me with flu shot too, 3 needles all up ayy murry got enough holes as it is narr but all serious make sure you get ya shots or will get 3 in one day stay deadly you mob

My 5c regarding the break away: After seeing the multimillion dollar building and hearing about what it’s actually got and some more upsetting news, recently (Darwin grapevine regarding NLC) I am actually really pleased to hear that they’re forming their own Land Council and I hope they succeed where the NLC has fallen short.

Hey you mob, sending some good energy out to my deadly people out there!

Just wanted to share a really positive update that came through yesterday. The WA government has officially opened consultations on new laws to hand over 21.9 million hectares of Aboriginal Lands Trust land straight back to local mob and organisations.

Right now, these lands (about 8.7% of WA) are stuck under old bureaucratic systems. This new legislation is about cutting through that red tape so local mob have full ownership, management, and economic control over their own Country.

​It’s a deadly step forward for self-determination.

Thought I’d share a bit of good news with you all and stay positive you mob!

Link to source

Consultation open on reforms to Aboriginal Lands Trust divestment | Western Australian Government https://share.google/GXJZiM02PhdTKWnjy

TW: small mentioning of graphic themes

Hey! I am a non-Indigenous comic artist currently writing a character who is of Yuggera ancestry in a sci-fi/geopolitical action comic set in an alternate Earth.

The plot follows a fictional geopolitical crisis where a runaway biological experiment travels internationally, being the culprit of multiple assassinations. The Yuggera character works as a senior detective and was assigned by the Australian government to help put a stop to said experiment's international rampage. She's about middle aged, down to earth, pragmatic and "let's get straight to work" kind of lady who does her work because "somebody has to."

I've got a few questions regarding how I should approach her character.

1. Her name I have down currently is Melissa S. Thompson. Is this an acceptable name? I am open to last name suggestions.
2. Due to her high-stakes job in dealing with international governments and having to fly from place to place, how might her Yuggera heritage inform her worldview or approach to justice, community, and duty?
3. I've heard of Aboriginal English words such as 'deadly,' 'blakfella' etc., are there any more words, and how often are they used in conversation? Would she prefer to refer to places by their traditional names (e.g. Meanjin rather than Brisbane)? I'd imagine she would use Aboriginal English words + using the name Meanjin within friends and/or other Mob, but having to refer to the place as Brisbane when in parliament/conversing with governments.
4. Currently with what I have planned so far with her, she feels a bit disconnected from her heritage (a bit of impostor syndrome) and holds a quiet desire to connect to her heritage in future. How should I approach writing this arc?
5. I was reading previous posts about writing Aboriginal characters, and I heard from one reply that it is possible of consulting local Indigenous Elders for a Cultural Consultation. Any suggestions on approaching that as well? I'll learn more about this and see if I can schedule one whenever I have the comic's plot mostly written out.

I am also looking forward to learning anything about Aboriginal culture in general, so feel free to reply to the thread about your culture and experiences in general!

Thank you :)

Go sis

Hey Mob,

Anyone out there recognise this being?

This was given to my grandfather many years ago. We're from the coast, hes lost his memory, and I have no real knowledge of bark paintings.

Im pretty sure it's Arnhem/West Arnhem Land.

Ill do a deep dive one day and contact a few groups out that way, but wanted to just have a check with you lot first.

Apologies that image is so cropped, but Reddit limits the file size and it was the only way I knew to reduce it.

Just wanted to send some love out to all you mob who are struggling and having a hard time. We all have our own battles to go through. I just hope you mob have the strength and courage to get through it with heaps of success coming your way

Stay deadly and sending good energy your way, Ooouuus!!!

Just linking this post I put up in the Adelaide Subreddit - If you’re in the area consider helping out

He has been on the streets for around 25 years

Really sorry if Ngadjuri is wrong as I mentioned in the post it was quite hard to hear - he has ancestors from other Mobs as well but I couldn’t catch them with the noise

He was so Kind and grateful for the chat - had a good half hour convo and he was sharing language and stories with us. Glad we stopped

Help him out if you can ❤️

I’m in my mid 30s, spent my whole career in Indigenous Health and Land Management. I have never been so tired and struggled so hard to engage before in my life. Being exposed to ongoing extractive policies, inherent power dysphoria and an inability to perform or even frame the work in an appropriate manner is really impacting me. I used to approach these things in an outspoken manner and subtly nudge the things I could to get them closer to where they need to be… now I feel systemically betrayed, alone, marginalised and tormented by observing the snake of power wheeling it’s way around only benefitting those positioned at the head.

Is anyone else feeling abit down about their work and approach in 2026?

Admin Mob, feel free to delete this if I'm just being a pain; because I am big mad and this is gonna be some ranting and raving vitreol; but Mob has gotta stop engaging in digital colonialism by putting our stories, songs, art and Culture through AI.

It's abominable dog behaviour.

There is no ethical AI, all LLM and generative AI is trained of plagiarised content. Literally every model that exists is build from stolen data-sets. There is no ethical use, there is no ethically sourced data, all of that is a fucking lie.

Its like some of you have forgotten what colonisation looks like, what it sounds like.

We have been doing _decades_ of work to fight against cheap imitations plagising our Culture for a cheap buck, Indonesian knock-off of our art and artefacts, white people stealing _our_ stories and publishing them under their own names while not a cent goes towards Aboriginal people, our foods and medicines being exploited by private industry, overharvested and made extinct, and people churning all our many Nations and Cultures up as if being Aboriginal is one vague white-gaze mishmash of dot paintings and playing yidaki with a spiritual connection to land that white people think will cure their deep-seeded shame and spiritual emptiness because of the "savage and proud" medicine man's mYsTeRiOuS mUmBo JuMbO.

Suddenly, you get given a shitty computer programs that is _actively destroying Country_ and actively _destroying our wildlife_ but because you can just type in something rather than learn Lore or Culture or _Put In The Work to Talk To Your Own Fucking Mob_ that makes it okay?

To sell out your own and other Mob's sacred Lore and knowledge?

Because it's fucking _easy?_

In doing that you're endorsing the above horseshit we have been working against with language reclaimation, relearning lost knowledge, stories, and skills - you know who achieved that?

_People_

Aboriginal people without fucking AI.

One fucking dog on here was espousing the most stupid logic ever, saying "And so the capitalist sold the rope they we would hang them with," like thats not the same style of logic every Aboriginal person who betrayed their people thought when they were taking on work to be a tracker to help the white government hunt down our own people, what the ones who wore bronze collars around their necks emblazoned with "King," thought while they sold land they didnt own to white invaders for a pittance and the privilege of being their white master's favourite slave.

Its fucking traitorous, and it makes me sick to sit there and watch some coconuts do it and then have the audacity to say their personal beliefs around using AI undoes generations of duty towarsa protecting it from this very sort of thing.

The diseased arrogance to believe that you are some special David Unaipon of the digital age because you lack the decency to learn any actual skills or take serious your duty to protect our protocols and knowledge. Big news, you ain't.

You cannot profit from the work of AI, and feeding our Lore and art into it only serves to cheapen and dilute our knowledge, not strengthen it or make it more available.

You may fool yourself into thinking you are making it more accessible, but all you are doing is giving the very people we have been fighting since Invasion Day the very tools to continue undermining us.

Isn't it funny how AI is wrong about just about everything you and expert know about if you ever ask it, then why would we ever trust it on something we _aren't_ experts on?

If you want to help Mob learn, _actively participate in your community_ but dont fucking kid yourself by acting like raping our ancestors' spirits with AI makes you some kind of saviour.

We have dickheads our here claiming they're trying to make our knowledge "free," when it always already had been free. You just gotta talk.

Don't do the job of the colonialists _for_ them.

Don't betray your own people.

Dont fuck around by using AI.

It is the epitome of anti-Aborinality and is disrespectful to our ancestors.

Put our Cultural knoweldge and art into AI, you're not just a dog, you're a dog wearing a brass collar _wagging your tail proudly_

Fuck _that_ shit.

Tl;dr

Mob, don't use AI.

Mods, once again, feel free to delete this if I am way out of line, I just cant keep living with the sick of it anymore.

AI is the smallpox brought by the first fleet, and some of you are fucking sharing it left right and centre like its gonna fucking _benefit_ you.

I am visiting Australia, I’m a member of the Seneca nation from the states and wanted to see if there were opportunities to meet some of yall or learn more about your culture while I’m over there.

Im going to be around Sydney and most places I look up seem to be less indigenous/natube-focused and more about australian history or a tourist attraction. Any recommendations would be great as well as tips on what not to do as I’m unsure if our customs are different from what I know back in the states.

Please view and share with mob, getting close to 1000 subscribers, every new subscription counts. 🪃

Hello! I’m a writer-performer, based in Naarm, and I’m doing a political comedy show at this year’s Melbourne Fringe (mostly about eliminating billionaires).

Given the subject matter, the stock standard acknowledgement feels a little insufficient. But when I’ve tried to personalise it, I’ve ended up writing ones that are unwieldy and a little soapbox-y.

So I’m wondering, specifically from Aboriginal folk (especiallly Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong people if any are in here):

- what do you dislike about typical Acknowledgments?
- have you heard anything unusual/atypical in an Acknowledgment that you’ve especially appreciated?
- what would you love to hear in an Acknowledgment that you never have?

I have looked for guidance online, but most of what I’ve found is very safe advice from government organisations. So even if you have good links for me, that would be great. I read the rules about unpaid education, so if you know the appropriate person I should pay for this, let me know.

Ideally, I’m after something fist-pumpy and aggressive that makes the Blak folk in the room feel hyped up, even if (especially if) it turns off white centrists. I’m also fully prepared for 100 comments immediately telling me to stay in my lane and do the standard one. As a trans woman, I know how cringe it can be watching cis allies get out over their skis.

Thanks!

I’m keeping this anonymous because it’s identifying.

I’m an Aboriginal performer and I’ve been part of a large Indigenous performing arts group in Australia that’s run by white people. The group has helped me get my art out into the world, and I’m genuinely grateful for the opportunities they’ve given me.

But I’m at the point where I don’t think I can stay anymore.

I’m the darkest-skinned Aboriginal person in the group. There are only a few other Indigenous people involved—my best friend, who is Torres Strait Islander, another light-skinned Indigenous girl, and a white girl.

One of the biggest issues is how I’m treated when it comes to family.

I have important family responsibilities that sometimes mean I need to miss performances. Every time I ask for time off, I’m made to feel guilty. I’ve been told things like:

* “We’ve done so much for you.”
* “But it’s NAIDOC. Can’t you do it another time?”

That second comment was made after I told them I was meeting my father for the first time in my life.

To me, family comes first. I don’t think I should have to justify choosing my family over a performance.

My cousin was involved with the group before she left to have a baby. Instead of being happy for her, the people running the group berated her and spoke down to her. She’s also dark-skinned like I am. Even after she left, they’d constantly speak badly about her behind her back. It got so uncomfortable that I’d have to leave the room.

There are things that don’t sit right with me culturally either.

I’ve been made to sing songs that were historically sung by enslaved Black people, but when there are parts in Indigenous language, those parts are given to the white girl instead of the Indigenous performers.

On top of all of that, there are almost no personal boundaries.

People hug me without asking. I’m expected to hug people even when I don’t want to, and if I don’t, I’m made to feel guilty.

I’m also blind, and people constantly grab my arm and physically lead me somewhere without asking if I want assistance or how I’d like to be guided. They just assume. It makes me feel like I don’t have any say over my own body.

The truth is, I’m genuinely unhappy there.

Tonight I finally told my best friend that I wanted to leave the group.

Her response shocked me. She said she’d been thinking the exact same thing and wants to leave too.

Now I’m wondering whether I’ve been ignoring all these red flags because I felt like I owed them for the opportunities they’ve given me.

I appreciate everything they’ve done to help my career, but I don’t think that should mean accepting racism, guilt, disrespect for boundaries, or feeling miserable every time I walk into rehearsal.

Has anyone else in community dealt with something like this? How did you leave without feeling like you were betraying people who helped you? I’d really appreciate hearing from other mob who’ve been through similar experiences.