Political Issues in Australian Aboriginal Toponymies
Abstract
Briefly we consider some of the political issues that arise in relation to Australian Aboriginal place names.
First, we look at Aboriginal place names in Land Claim and Native Title cases through which there has
been a tremendous expansion in Indigenous place names documentation. However that documentation may
contain significant inaccuracies and in any case is too often inaccessible. Second, we briefly examine the
process of dual naming with a focus on the state of New South Wales. Among the issues that arise in this
arena are: the potential for disputes within and among Aboriginal groups; the choice of spelling for the
place name; a public misunderstanding of the nature of Aboriginal placenames.
First, we look at Aboriginal place names in Land Claim and Native Title cases through which there has
been a tremendous expansion in Indigenous place names documentation. However that documentation may
contain significant inaccuracies and in any case is too often inaccessible. Second, we briefly examine the
process of dual naming with a focus on the state of New South Wales. Among the issues that arise in this
arena are: the potential for disputes within and among Aboriginal groups; the choice of spelling for the
place name; a public misunderstanding of the nature of Aboriginal placenames.