Indigenous Information Sources: Getting started
This section provides search tips and key search terms you could use within UWA's OneSearch to find information relating to Australia's First Nations people. Be aware the search terms within different information collections may reflect outdated language and/or terminology, that no longer reflects the sentiments of self-determination and respectful collaboration that underpin current practice.
Getting started in OneSearch
Simple Search Tips
The terms 'Indigenous Australians' and 'Aboriginal Australians' are used interchangeably in articles and books.
You can use OR to search for either of those terms (synonyms):
"Indigenous Australians" OR "Aboriginal Australians"
To narrow your search, you can combine keywords with AND to search for resources that contain both terms (different concepts):
"indigenous communities" AND "self determination"
The Advanced Search option in OneSearch helps you to easily search for a combination of synonyms and different concepts. For example:
"Indigenous Australians" OR "Aboriginal Australians" OR "fFirst Nations people" OR "Aboriginal and Torrest Strait Islander people"
Translating your search to OneSearch
Click on the screenshot below to see the search results in OneSearch. Have a go at replacing the term 'identity' with a concept you are researching.
Use the Refine my Results options on the left-hand panel to filter your results list. For example:
- Click on the Resource Types to show only articles, book , videos, etc.
- Click on the Subject to show only resources tagged with a subject focus.
For more details and lots more search tips and tricks, see our Compose a Search guide.
Why use quick reference?
If you are stuck for terms to use in your searches, dictionaries, encyclopedias and 'companions' can be a good starting point to build your vocabulary for topics you're not familiar with. They also provide context and background to the subject.
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For example, A Concise Companion to Aboriginal History by Malcolm Prentis provides an overview in the form of a timeline of Australian Aboriginal history from creation stories involving the Dreaming through to Aboriginal cultural and political activity in the 21st century. It includes a dictionary of iconic terms, biographies, historical events, pioneering work by anthropologists, historical controversies, literature and sport, and a number of social issues. Many of the dictionary entries have suggestions for further readings. |
Note: This record has been given the subject "Aboriginal Australians - History" click on this subject term to view a list of resources on this topic.
Finding quick reference
If you're looking for research methods relating to indigenous issues and protocols, then you can include in your search terms
Research Methodology Combine this with Aboriginal Australians or to broaden your scope to include indigenous communities from around the world, use Indigenous peoples
Use the Refine my Results panel to refine by Subject and/or Books or Peer-reviewed Articles.
Using filters in OneSearch
You can filter your results to just show books by selecting Resource Type from the Refine my Results panel on the left, then select Resource Type - Books.
Subject searching in OneSearch
When you find a resource that is on topic, check the Subject terms in the Details area of the OneSearch record.
Clicking on those Subject terms will conduct a Subject search based on those terms. Or simply take note of words to use for future searches.
Using Advanced Search, you can search by Subject.
"Aboriginal Australians" is the formal Subject Heading for books, followed by set sub-topics.
Below are a some examples of formal Subject Headings for books to really target your search.
Aboriginal Australians - Medical care
Aboriginal Australians - Social life and customs
Aboriginal Australians - Western Australia
Other formal Subject Headings the are:
Stolen generations (Australia)
The best place to begin to search for a specific journal title is in OneSearch - Advanced Search mode. Use the pull down menu for Material Type to select Journals and search using a key word or actual publication title.
You can also view a large list of Journal Titles focusing on Australian Indigenous issues by searching specific subject classifications such as Aboriginal Australians - Periodicals.
Below is a list of some Journals important to Indigenous Studies related to First Nations people of Australia.
- ab-Original: Journal of Indigenous Studies and First Nations' and First Peoples' CulturesA journal devoted to issues of indigeneity in the new millennium. It is a multi-disciplinary journal embracing themes such as art, history, literature, politics, linguistics, health sciences and law.
- Aboriginal historySince 1977 this journal has pioneered studies of Indigenous oral history, language, ethnohistory, and documentary evidence.
- Australian Aboriginal studiesFocuses on the humanities and social sciences; a pre-eminent inter-disciplinary Indigenous studies journal.
Browse the bookshelves in any library to see what we have on a particular subject theme.
However, please note that most of our latest and newest books are likely to be ebooks, so ensure you do a search in OneSearch.
| Subject | Call Number |
| Aboriginal Identity /Kinship /Spirituality /Reconciliation /Government Relations | 305.89915 |
| Aboriginal Civil Rights / Government Relations / Land Rights/Mabo/Native Title/Wik / Politics | 323.119915 |
| Aboriginal Economic Conditions | 331.699915 |
| Aboriginal Customary Law | 340.52 |
| Aboriginal Land Rights | 346.940432 |
| Aboriginal Criminal Justice | 364.349915 |
| Aboriginal Education | 371.979915 |
| Aboriginal Languages | 499.15 |
| Aboriginal Music | 781.629915 |
| Aboriginal Songs | 782.421629915 |
| Aboriginal Biography | 994.0049915 |
Finding and using eBooks
The eBooks guide will help you with finding, downloading and reading eBooks on subject library computers or on your own device.
Image credits: iPad ebook demo by Anita Hart. (license)
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