Over time, the language and terminology used to describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has changed. When searching for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources and materials, researchers may have to use language that is now considered outdated or even offensive.
The following list includes some of the keywords researchers may use when searching for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content.
Subject headings are specific words or phrases that are used to organise material. UQ Library uses subject headings from the Library of Congress, the AIATSIS Pathways (Subject and Place) Thesauri, the AIATSIS AustLang database, and Field of Research Codes.
The following list includes some of the subject headings used for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content. Researchers may find other relevant subject headings are used in conjunction or in addition to the subject headings listed below.
You may enjoy finding further resources by browsing the Library’s physical collection. The following list includes some of the call numbers where you may find Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content.
| Australian history and ethnography | DU80-398 |
|---|---|
| Anthropology | GN550-674 |
| Criminal justice administration | HV9950-9960 |
| Political institutions and public administration | JQ3995-6651 |
| Colonies and colonization | JV9100-9269 |
| Law | KU1- KUN3050 |
| Australian languages | PL7001-7101 |
| General literature | PN6010-6790 |
| English literature (incl. Australian authors) | R8100-9680 |
| Astronomy | QB1-991 |
| Public health | RA 421-790.95 |
A reverse citation search is when you search for resources by looking through the reference lists of published material such as books, articles and theses. This is incredibly useful in the case of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources because Indigenous researchers are likely to cite other Indigenous peoples. If researchers are struggling for a place to start, they should search for an Indigenous researcher or academic in their faculty and select relevant publications to conduct a reverse citation search