In some instances Aboriginal people above a certain age will refer to themselves as Elders. It is important to understand that, in traditional Aboriginal culture, age alone doesn't necessarily mean that one is recognised as an Elder. Aboriginal people traditionally refer to an Elder as 'Aunty' or 'Uncle'.
Acknowledgement of Country should be everyone's responsibility. Why is the term "Aunty" and "Uncle" used so widely in the Aboriginal Community? Put simply - RESPECT! It also relates to recognition of Aboriginal Elders, kinship and extended families.
Aboriginal people refer to an Elder as 'Aunty' or 'Uncle'. However, it is recommended that non-Aboriginal people check the appropriateness of their use of these terms as referring to an Elder or leader as Aunty or Uncle may not be appropriate for an outsider unless a strong relationship has been established.
In many Indigenous families, aunties are the matriarchs who carry forward our traditions. Though the moniker “Native auntie” is more of a term of endearment for Indigenous elders. They can be your literal aunts, a close family friend, or a respected figure in your community.
Traditionally the Aboriginal family was a collaboration of clans composed of mothers, fathers, uncles, aunties, sisters, brothers, cousins and so on. In today's terms it is known as an extended family .
To make direct eye contact can be viewed as being rude, disrespectful or even aggressive.To convey polite respect, the appropriate approach would be to avert or lower your eyes in conversation. Observe the other person's body language.
Sydney Aboriginal Language Insights: Nyungar words: mangad: aunt / ant / any.
It is a sign of respect to refer to those older than you as Aunty or Uncle especially if they are family. This includes extended family. By using Aunty or Uncle you show that you respect them, their leadership and their lived experience which typically outweighs those who are younger.
1. a familiar or diminutive word for aunt. 2. Australian offensive, slang. an older homosexual man.
Assimilationist terms such as 'full-blood,' 'half-caste' and 'quarter-caste' are extremely offensive and should never be used when referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
'Aborigine' is generally perceived as insensitive, because it has racist connotations from Australia's colonial past, and lumps people with diverse backgrounds into a single group. You're more likely to make friends by saying 'Aboriginal person', 'Aboriginal' or 'Torres Strait Islander'.
In Aboriginal culture it is taboo to mention (or in some cases write) the name of a deceased person. Aboriginal people believe that if the deceased person's name is mentioned, the spirit is called back to this world.
Although most men had only one wife at a time, polygyny was considered both legitimate and good. The average number of wives in polygynous unions was 2 or 3. The maximum in the Great Sandy Desert was 5 or 6; among the Tiwi, 29; among the Yolngu, 20 to 25, with many men having 10 to 12.
Among some Aboriginal groups, at least, marriages were often polygynous (with a husband having two or more wives): a wife, on the other hand, would have only one husband at a time, although usually she would be married to several husbands in succession, as the former husband died or the marriage broke up.
They know who their real mother and father are, but under these societal (kinship) laws, other family members have equal importance. The common terms of endearment among Aboriginal peoples are 'brother' or 'sister' when talking to people. These are derived from the kinship terms and associations.
Before it took on the slightly mocking tone given to it today, auntie managed to combine both respect and familiarity. Far from being used downwards, it was used where respect was required, but not the level of formality which demanded a word like 'ma'am'.
'Aborigine' is a noun for an Aboriginal person (male or female).
auntie (n.)
1787, also aunty, familiar diminutive form of aunt. It also was a form of kindly address to an older woman to whom one is not related, originally in southern U.S., of elderly slave women.
Here are some simple rules with using “Aunty”:
If she's your Aunty's friend or mom's friend, she's Aunty. If you're both adults and you don't know her very well… DON'T CALL HER AUNTY. Unless all your friends are calling her Aunty…then you're good to go.
The word aunty is known to be more frequently used in Britain, whereas the word auntie is said to be more frequently used in America. It's primarily used to replace the word aunt.
This shows that parent and child, grandparent and grandchild are equal, connected by a reciprocal relationship. A Noongar family will also claim the grandchildren of their brothers and sisters and refer to them as “they all my grannies”. Deman is the name for Grandmother. or 'deman yaarl koorl' – Grandmother come here.
Tidda: Means sister and can also be used when referring to female friends.
The ONLY, effective and accurate way to identify someone of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin is to ask the question. “Are you of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin?”
Yolngu Matha. Ngandi, Ngamala or Ngama - Mother.
In the early years of its development the administrators were largely of middle class origins and demonstrated daily that they knew what was best for listeners and later on the viewers. This was derided by critics as the "Auntie knows best" syndrome. Hence the shortened version of "Auntie".